re ‧ flect S2 W1 /rɪˈflekt/ BrE AmE verb
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ reflection , ↑ reflector ; verb : ↑ reflect ; adjective : ↑ reflective ]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: reflectere 'to bend back' , from flectere 'to bend' ]
1 . IMAGE [transitive usually passive] if a person or a thing is reflected in a mirror, glass, or water, you can see an image of the person or thing on the surface of the mirror, glass, or water
be reflected in something
She could see her face reflected in the car’s windshield.
2 . BE A SIGN OF SOMETHING [transitive not usually in progressive] to show or be a sign of a particular situation or feeling:
The drop in consumer spending reflects concern about the economy.
be reflected in something
The increasing racial diversity of the US is reflected in the latest census statistics.
reflect who/what/how etc
How much you’re paid reflects how important you are to the company you work for.
3 . LIGHT/HEAT/SOUND
a) [transitive] if a surface reflects light, heat, or sound, it sends back the light etc that reaches it:
Wear something white – it reflects the heat.
b) [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] if light, heat, or sound reflects off something it reaches, it comes back from it
4 . THINK ABOUT SOMETHING [intransitive and transitive] to think carefully about something, or to say something that you have been thinking about
reflect on
He had time to reflect on his successes and failures.
reflect that
Moe reflected that he had never seen Sherry so happy.
reflect on/upon somebody/something phrasal verb
to influence people’s opinion of someone or something, especially in a bad way:
If my children are rude, that reflects on me as a parent.
• • •
THESAURUS
■ to think about something
▪ think to use your mind to decide about something, form an opinion, imagine something etc:
I’ve been thinking about what you said – maybe you’re right.
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I need some time to think.
▪ consider to think about something carefully before deciding what to do:
Have you considered working for a year before going to college?
▪ weigh ( also weigh up British English ) to carefully think about a plan or choice by comparing all the advantages and disadvantages involved:
You need to weigh up the pros and cons (=the advantages and disadvantages) , and decide which investment is the best one for you.
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The committee are still weighing the alternatives.
▪ give something some/a lot of thought to think carefully about something, before you make a final decision about it:
Why don’t you give it some thought and then get back to me?
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He had obviously given the matter a lot of thought.
▪ mull something over to think about a problem, plan etc before making a decision:
Can you give me a bit of time to mull it over?
▪ ponder to spend time thinking carefully and seriously about something, especially a problem or something complicated:
She is still pondering what to do.
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Officials are pondering ways to remove the oil from the beaches.
▪ contemplate to think about something you might do in the future:
Did you ever contemplate resigning?
▪ reflect formal to think carefully about something, especially something that happened in the past:
It was a good time to reflect upon the changes that had happened in my life.