Reflection

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: re=flec=tion

CIDE DICTIONARY

Reflection, n. [L. reflexio: cf. F. réflexion. See Riflect.].

•  The act of reflecting, or turning or sending back, or the state of being reflected.  [1913 Webster]

  "The eye sees not itself,
  But by reflection, by some other things."  [1913 Webster]

  "By reflection, . . . I would be understood to mean, that notice which the mind takes of its own operations, and the manner of them, by reason whereof there come to be ideas of these operations in the understanding."  [1913 Webster]

  "This delight grows and improves under thought and reflection."  [1913 Webster]
•  Shining; brightness, as of the sun.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]
•  That which is produced by reflection.  [1913 Webster]

  "As the sun water we can bear,
  Yet not the sun, but his reflection, there."  [1913 Webster]

  "Job's reflections on his once flourishing estate did at the same time afflict and encourage him."  [1913 Webster]
•  Censure; reproach cast.  [1913 Webster]

  "He died; and oh! may no reflection shed
  Its poisonous venom on the royal dead."  [1913 Webster]
•  The transference of an excitement from one nerve fiber to another by means of the nerve cells, as in reflex action. See Reflex action, under Reflex.  [1913 Webster]

Angle of reflection, the angle which anything, as a ray of light, on leaving a reflecting surface, makes with the perpendicular to the surface. -- Angle of total reflection. (Opt.) Same as Critical angle, under Critical.

Syn. -- Meditation; contemplation; rumination; cogitation; consideration; musing; thinking.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Reflection, n. (also reflexion)
1 the act or an instance of reflecting; the process of being reflected.
2 a reflected light, heat, or colour. b a reflected image.
3 reconsideration (on reflection).
4 (often foll. by on) discredit or a thing bringing discredit.
5 (often foll. by on, upon) an idea arising in the mind; a comment or apophthegm.

Idiom

angle of reflection Physics the angle made by a reflected ray with a perpendicular to the reflecting surface.

Derivative

reflectional adj.

Etymology

ME f. OF reflexion or LL reflexio (as REFLECT), with assim. to reflect

DEVIL DICTIONARY

Reflection

n. An action of the mind whereby we obtain a clearer view of our relation to the things of yesterday and are able to avoid the perils that we shall not again encounter.

THESAURUS

Reflection

CRT spot, DM display, Doppler signal, IF signal, IM display, Parthian shot, RF echoes, S-curve, action and reaction, address, adumbration, adverse criticism, advisement, affirmation, albedo, allegation, animadversion, answer, apostrophe, apprehension, aspersion, assault, assertion, attack, attaint, automatic reaction, autonomic reaction, averment, bad notices, bad press, badge of infamy, bar sinister, baton, beam, beat signal, bend, bend sinister, bending, black eye, black mark, blink, blips, blot, blur, bounceback, bounces, bow, bowing, brainwork, brand, broad arrow, brooding, captiousness, carping, cavil, caviling, censoriousness, censure, cerebration, champain, circumspection, circumspectness, cogitation, comment, commitment to memory, companion, conceit, concept, conception, conflexure, consideration, contemplation, cool judgment, copy, corroboration, counsel, crack, criticism, dead ringer, declaration, deflection, deliberating, deliberation, depreciation, derogation, dictum, discreetness, discretion, discrimination, disparagement, display, double, double-dot display, duplicate, echo, echo signal, effect, effigy, evidence, exact likeness, exception, exclamation, exercise of memory, expression, fancy, faultfinding, fellow, flak, flashback, flection, flex, flexure, geanticline, geosyncline, good judgment, greeting, hairpin turn, hairsplitting, hindsight, hit, home thrust, hostile criticism, hypercriticalness, hypercriticism, ice sky, iceblink, icon, idea, idol, image, imago, impression, imputation, incident light, inflection, innuendo, insinuation, intellectual object, interjection, judgment, judiciousness, knock, learning by heart, likeness, living image, living picture, local oscillator signal, looking back, lucubration, mark, mark of Cain, match, mate, meander, meditating, meditation, memoir, memorization, memorizing, memory-trace, mental image, mental impression, mention, miniature, mirroring, model, musing, nagging, niggle, niggling, nit, nit-picking, note, notion, obloquy, observation, onset, onslaught, onus, opinion, outline, output signal, overcriticalness, oxbow, perception, personal remark, personality, pestering, pettifogging, photograph, phrase, picture, pillorying, pips, point champain, policy, polity, pondering, portrait, position, predictable response, priggishness, pronouncement, proof, providence, prudence, prudentialism, question, quibble, quibbling, radar signal, rap, reaction, reading, recall, recalling, recept, recollecting, recollection, reconsideration, reflectance, reflectiveness, reflex, reflex action, refluence, reflux, remark, remembering, remembrance, reminiscence, reply, representation, reprimand, reproach, reproachfulness, resemblance, respondence, response, result, retroaction, retrospect, retrospection, return, return signal, reverberation, review, revolving, revulsion, rise, rote, rote memory, rubbing, rumination, say, saying, semblance, sentence, sentiment, shadow, sign, signal, signal display, silhouette, similitude, simulacrum, slam, slur, sly suggestion, smear, smirch, smudge, smutch, snowblink, sound judgment, soundness of judgment, speculation, spit and image, spitting image, spot, stain, statement, stigma, stigmatism, stigmatization, stricture, study, subjoinder, substantiation, suggestion, supposition, sweep, swipe, symbol, taint, taking exception, target image, tarnish, testament, testimony, theory, thinking, thought, thoughtfulness, token, trace, tracing, transmitter signal, trichoschistism, turn, turning, twin, uncomplimentary remark, unthinking response, utterance, very image, very picture, video signal, water sky, waterblink, weighing, whispering campaign, word

ROGET THESAURUS

Reflection

Copy

N copy, facsimile, counterpart, effigies, effigy, form, likeness, image, picture, photo, xerox, similitude, semblance, ectype, photo offset, electrotype, imitation, model, representation, adumbration, study, portrait, resemblance, duplicate, reproduction, cast, tracing, reflex, reflexion, reflection, shadow, echo, transcript, transcription, recording, scan, chip off the old block, reprint, new printing, rechauffe, apograph, fair copy, parody, caricature, burlesque, travesty, travestie, paraphrase, derivative, derivation, modification, expansion, extension, revision, second edition, servile copy, servile imitation, plagiarism, counterfeit, fake, pasticcio, faithful, lifelike, close, conscientious, unoriginal, imitative, derivative.

Disapprobation

N disapprobation, disapproval, improbation, disesteem, disvaluation, displacency, odium, dislike, dispraise, discommendation, blame, censure, obloquy, detraction, disparagement, depreciation, denunciation, condemnation, ostracism, black list, animadversion, reflection, stricture, objection, exception, criticism, sardonic grin, sardonic laugh, sarcasm, insinuation, innuendo, bad compliment, poor compliment, left-handed compliment, satire, sneer, taunt, cavil, carping, censoriousness, hypercriticism, reprehension, remonstrance, expostulation, reproof, reprobation, admonition, increpation, reproach, rebuke, reprimand, castigation, jobation, lecture, curtain lecture, blow up, wigging, dressing, rating, scolding, trimming, correction, set down, rap on the knuckles, coup de bec, rebuff, slap, slap on the face, home thrust, hit, frown, scowl, black look, diatribe, jeremiad, jeremiade, tirade, philippic, clamor, outcry, hue and cry, hiss, hissing, sibilance, sibilation, catcall, execration, chiding, upbraiding, exprobation, abuse, vituperation, invective, objurgation, contumely, hard words, cutting words, bitter words, evil-speaking, bad language, personality, disapproving, scandalized, disparaging, condemnatory, damnatory, denunciatory, reproachful, abusive, objurgatory, clamorous, vituperative, defamatory, satirical, sarcastic, sardonic, cynical, dry, sharp, cutting, biting, severe, withering, trenchant, hard upon, censorious, critical, captious, carping, hypercritical, fastidious, sparing of praise, grudging praise, disapproved, chid, in bad odor, blown upon, unapproved, unblest, at a discount, exploded, weighed in the balance and found wanting, blameworthy, reprehensible, to blame, worthy of blame, answerable, uncommendable, exceptionable, not to be thought of, bad, vicious, unlamented, unbewailed, unpitied, with a wry face, reproachfully, Int, it is too bad!, it won't do, it will never do!, marry come up!, Oh!, come!, 'sdeath!, forbid it Heaven!, God forbid, Heaven forbid!, out upon, fie upon it!, away with!, tut!, O tempora!, O mores!, shame!, fie, fie for shame!, out on you!, tell it not in Gath!.

Recoil

N recoil, reaction, retroaction, revulsion, bounce, rebound, ricochet, repercussion, recalcitration, kick, contrecoup, springing back, elasticity, reflection, reflexion, reflex, reflux, reverberation, rebuff, repulse, return, ducks and drakes, boomerang, spring, reactionist, elastic collision, coefficient of restitution, recoiling, refluent, repercussive, recalcitrant, reactionary, retroactive, on the rebound, on the recoil, for every action there is a reaction, equal in force and opposite in direction.

Resonance

N resonance, ring, ringing, tintinabulation, reflexion, reflection, reverberation, echo, reecho, zap, zot, buzz (hiss), low note, base note, bass note, flat note, grave note, deep note, bass, basso, basso profondo, baritone, barytone, contralto, echo chamber, resonator, tinnitus, bell, doorbell, buzzer, gong, cymbals (musical instruments), sympathetic vibrations, natural frequency, coupled vibration frequency, overtone, resonating cavity, sounding board, tuning fork, tuning, squelch, frequency selection, resonator, resonator circuit, radio resonant structure, aromaticity, alternating double bonds, non-bonded resonance, pi clouds, unsaturation, double bond, (valence), resounding, resonant, reverberant, tinnient, tintinnabulary, sonorous, booming, deep-toned, deep-sounding, deep-mouthed, vibrant, hollow, sepulchral, gruff, sweet bells jangled, out of time and harsh, echoing down the mountain and through the dell.

Light

N light, ray, beam, stream, gleam, streak, pencil, sunbeam, moonbeam, aurora, day, sunshine, light of day, light of heaven, moonlight, starlight, sunlight, daylight, broad daylight, noontide light, noontide, noonday, noonday sun, glow, glimmering, glint, play of light, flood of light, phosphorescence, lambent flame, flush, halo, glory, nimbus, aureola, spark, scintilla, facula, sparkling, emication, scintillation, flash, blaze, coruscation, fulguration, flame, lightning, levin, ignis fatuus, luster, sheen, shimmer, reflexion, reflection, gloss, tinsel, spangle, brightness, brilliancy, splendor, effulgence, refulgence, fulgor, fulgidity, dazzlement, resplendence, transplendency, luminousness, luminosity, lucidity, renitency, nitency, radiance, radiation, irradiation, illumination, actinic rays, actinism, Roentgen-ray, Xray, photography, heliography, photometer, optics, photology, photometry, dioptrics, catoptrics, chiaroscuro, clairobscur, clear obscure, breadth, light and shade, black and white, tonality, reflection, refraction, dispersion, refractivity, shining, luminous, luminiferous, lucid, lucent, luculent, lucific, luciferous, light, lightsome, bright, vivid, splendent, nitid, lustrous, shiny, beamy, scintillant, radiant, lambent, sheen, sheeny, glossy, burnished, glassy, sunny, orient, meridian, noonday, tide, cloudless, clear, unclouded, unobscured, gairish, garish, resplendent, transplendent, refulgent, effulgent, fulgid, fulgent, relucent, splendid, blazing, in a blaze, ablaze, rutilant, meteoric, phosphorescent, aglow, bright as silver, light as day, bright as day, light as noonday, bright as noonday, bright as the sun at noonday, actinic, photogenic, graphic, heliographic, heliophagous, a day for gods to stoop and men to soar, dark with excessive bright, light, ray, beam, stream, gleam, streak, pencil, sunbeam, moonbeam, aurora, day, sunshine, light of day, light of heaven, moonlight, starlight, sunlight, daylight, broad daylight, noontide light, noontide, noonday, noonday sun, glow, glimmering, glint, play of light, flood of light, phosphorescence, lambent flame, flush, halo, glory, nimbus, aureola, spark, scintilla, facula, sparkling, emication, scintillation, flash, blaze, coruscation, fulguration, flame, lightning, levin, ignis fatuus, luster, sheen, shimmer, reflexion, reflection, gloss, tinsel, spangle, brightness, brilliancy, splendor, effulgence, refulgence, fulgor, fulgidity, dazzlement, resplendence, transplendency, luminousness, luminosity, lucidity, renitency, nitency, radiance, radiation, irradiation, illumination, actinic rays, actinism, Roentgen-ray, Xray, photography, heliography, photometer, optics, photology, photometry, dioptrics, catoptrics, chiaroscuro, clairobscur, clear obscure, breadth, light and shade, black and white, tonality, reflection, refraction, dispersion, refractivity, shining, luminous, luminiferous, lucid, lucent, luculent, lucific, luciferous, light, lightsome, bright, vivid, splendent, nitid, lustrous, shiny, beamy, scintillant, radiant, lambent, sheen, sheeny, glossy, burnished, glassy, sunny, orient, meridian, noonday, tide, cloudless, clear, unclouded, unobscured, gairish, garish, resplendent, transplendent, refulgent, effulgent, fulgid, fulgent, relucent, splendid, blazing, in a blaze, ablaze, rutilant, meteoric, phosphorescent, aglow, bright as silver, light as day, bright as day, light as noonday, bright as noonday, bright as the sun at noonday, actinic, photogenic, graphic, heliographic, heliophagous, a day for gods to stoop and men to soar, dark with excessive bright.

Thought

N thought, exercitation of the intellect, exercise of the intellect, intellection, reflection, cogitation, consideration, meditation, study, lucubration, speculation, deliberation, pondering, head work, brain work, cerebration, deep reflection, close study, application, abstract thought, abstraction contemplation, musing, brown study, reverie, Platonism, depth of thought, workings of the mind, thoughts, inmost thoughts, self-counsel self-communing, self- consultation, philosophy of the Absolute, philosophy of the Academy, philosophy of the Garden, philosophy of the lyceum, philosophy of the Porch, association of thought, succession of thought, flow of thought, train of thought, current of thought, association of ideas, succession of ideas, flow of ideas, train of ideas, current of ideas, after thought, mature thought, reconsideration, second thoughts, retrospection, excogitation, examination, invention, thoughtfulness, thinking, thoughtful, pensive, meditative, reflective, museful, wistful, contemplative, speculative, deliberative, studious, sedate, introspective, Platonic, philosophical, lost in thought, deep musing, in the mind, under consideration, all things considered, the mind being on the stretch, the mind turning upon, the head turning upon, the mind running upon, divinely, bent to meditation, en toute chose il faut considerer la fin, fresh- pluckt from bowers of never-failing thought, go speed the stars of Thought, in maiden meditation fancy-free, so sweet is zealous contemplation, the power of thought is the magic of the Mind, those that think must govern those that toil, thought is parent of the deed, thoughts in attitudes imperious, thoughts that breathe and words that burn, vivere est cogitare, Volk der Dichter und Denker.

Idea

N idea, notion, conception, thought, apprehension, impression, perception, image, eidolon, sentiment, reflection, observation, consideration, abstract idea, archetype, formative notion, guiding conception, organizing conception, image in the mind, regulative principle, view, theory, conceit, fancy, phantasy, point of view, field of view.

Attention

N attention, mindfulness, presence of mind, intentness, intentiveness, alertness, thought, advertence, advertency, observance, observation, consideration, reflection, perpension, heed, heedfulness, particularity, notice, regard, circumspection, diligence, study, scrutiny inspection, introspection, revision, revisal, active application, diligent application, exclusive application, minute application, close application, intense application, deep application, profound application, abstract application, labored application, deliberate application, active attention, diligent attention, exclusive attention, minute attention, close attention, intense attention, deep attention, profound attention, abstract attention, labored attention, deliberate attention, active thought, diligent thought, exclusive thought, minute thought, close thought, intense thought, deep thought, profound thought, abstract thought, labored thought, deliberate thought, active study, diligent study, exclusive study, minute study, close study, intense study, deep study, profound study, abstract study, labored study, deliberate study, minuteness, attention to detail, absorption of mind, indication, calling attention to, attentive, mindful, observant, regardful, alive to, awake to, observing, alert, open-eyed, intent on, taken up with, occupied with, engaged in, engrossed in, wrapped in, absorbed, rapt, transfixed, riveted, mesmerized, hypnotized, glued to (the TV, the window, a book), breathless, preoccupied, watchful, breathless, undistracted, upon the stretch, on the watch, steadfast, interesting, engrossing, mesmerizing, riveting, Int, see!, look, look here, look you, look to it!, mark!, lo!, behold!, soho!, hark, hark ye!, mind!, halloo!, observe!, lo and behold!, attention!, nota bene, N, B, note well, I'd have you to know, notice!, O yes!, Oyez!, dekko!, ecco!, yoho!, this is to give notice, these are to give notice, dictum sapienti sat est, a word to the wise is sufficient, finem respice, Attention! Now hear this! Oyez!, Achtung, vnimanie, chui.

Maxim

N maxim, aphorism, apothegm, apophthegm, dictum, saying, adage, saw, proverb, sentence, mot, motto, word, byword, moral, phylactery, protasis, axiom, theorem, scholium, truism, postulate, first principles, a priori fact, assumption (supposition), reflection, conclusion, golden rule, principle, principia, profession of faith, settled principle, accepted principle, formula, accepted fact, received truth, wise maxim, sage maxim, received maxim, admitted maxim, recognized maxim, true saying, common saying, hackneyed saying, trite saying, commonplace saying, aphoristic, proverbial, phylacteric, axiomatic, gnomic, as the saying goes, as the saying is, as they say.