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⇱ refract - WordReference.com Dictionary of English


refract

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/rɪˈfrækt/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/rɪˈfrækt/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(ri frakt)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
re•fract /rɪˈfrækt/USA pronunciation   v. [+ object]
  1. Opticsto cause a ray of light to change direction as it passes through different substances, as glass or water, at an angle.
See -frac-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
re•fract  (ri frakt),USA pronunciation v.t. 
  1. Opticsto subject to refraction.
  2. to determine the refractive condition of (an eye).
  • Latin refrāctus, past participle of refringere to break, force back, equivalent. to re- re- + frac- (variant stem of frangere to break) + -tus past participle suffix
  • 1605–15
re•fracta•ble, adj. 
re•fracted•ly, adv. 
re•fracted•ness, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
refract /rɪˈfrækt/ vb (transitive)
  1. to cause to undergo refraction
  2. to measure the refractive capabilities of (the eye, a lens, etc)
Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin refractus broken up, from refringere, from re- + frangere to breakreˈfractable adj
'refract' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
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