rə̇ˈfrakshən, rēˈf- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Late Latin refraction-, refractio, from Latin refractus (past participle of refringere ) + -ion-, -io -ion
1. : the action of refracting or the state of being refracted: as
a. : the deflection from a straight path undergone by a light ray or a wave of energy in passing obliquely from one medium (as air) into another (as water, glass) in which its velocity is different
b. obsolete : reflection , rebound
c. obsolete : a breaking up
d. : the change in the apparent position of a celestial body that is due to the bending of the light rays emanating from it as they pass through the earth's atmosphere ; also : the correction to be applied to the apparent position of a body because of this bending
2. obsolete : reduction of a bill : rebate
3.
a. : the refractive power of the eye
b. : the act or technique of determining ocular refraction and identifying abnormalities as a basis for the prescription of corrective lenses
4. : the action of distorting an image by viewing through a medium
looking at the world … observing it without the refraction of moral judgment — Janet Flanner
[s]refracti.jpg[/s] [
refraction 1: a light ray, b reflected ray, c refracted ray
]