■ noun
1》 an action performed without conscious thought as a response to a stimulus.
↘(in ~ology) a response in a part of the body to stimulation of a corresponding point on the feet, hands, or head.
2》 a thing that reproduces the essential features or qualities of something else.
↘a word formed by development from an earlier stage of a language.
3》 archaic a reflected source of light.
■ adjective
1》 (of an action) performed as a ~.
2》 (of an angle) exceeding 180°.
3》 archaic (of light) reflected.
4》 archaic bent or turned backwards.
Derivatives
~ly adverb
Origin
C16: from L. ~us 'a bending back', from reflectere (see reflect ).