refract
verb
re·fract
| \ ri-ˈfrakt
\
\
refracted;
refracting;
refracts
Definition of refract
1a
: to subject (something, such as a ray of light) to refraction
b
: to alter or distort as if by refraction
to refract that familiar world through the mind and heart of a romantic … woman— Anton Myrer
2
: to determine the refracting power of
Examples of refract in a Sentence
Light is refracted when it hits water.
Recent Examples on the Web
All living organisms have what are known as chiral molecules, which can reflect, refract, or diffract light. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Alien Plant Hunter Taking First Steps on Earth. Next Stop: Jupiter," 22 Aug. 2019 The show features 25 pieces (mostly from the ‘60s) by the Los Angeles light and space artist, known for canvases that refract light and toy with a viewer’s sense of perception. — Los Angeles Times, "Newsletter: Essential Arts: Fury after mass shootings felt in Mozart’s Requiem at the Bowl," 10 Aug. 2019 As a material that dramatically reflects and refracts light, water was always in Mr. Viola’s work. — Emily Bobrow, WSJ, "‘I Do Not Know What It Is I Am Like: The Art of Bill Viola’ Review: Spirituality in an Age of Irony," 9 July 2019 Beyond Metabolism The lens of the eye is packed with proteins called crystallins that refract light rays and focus them on the retina. — Quanta Magazine, "Evolution as Opportunist," 4 Sep. 2013 Just as some dreams might recur but most are ungodly innovations, Yorke’s third solo album refracts memories of his past work through a wild and unfamiliar thicket. — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, "Thom Yorke’s Beautiful New Nightmare," 29 June 2019 The angle through which it is refracted depends on its angle of incidence to the refracting surface—an angle that, on a curved surface, varies continuously. — The Economist, "How to make a flat lens," 25 July 2019 The song’s jam refracted colors suggesting a synthed-up, space-age form of psychedelic rock, without lapsing into the musical cliches of millennial-era jamtronica. — Jeremy D. Goodwin, BostonGlobe.com, "At Fenway, Phish rallies after a tentative start," 6 July 2019 The light work is particularly impressive in a movie that can shift with ease from the neon luridness of the midway to the delicate tracery of sunlight refracted through a stately retinue of chandeliers. — The Washington Post, The Mercury News, "Review: Woody and Buzz are back and better than ever," 20 June 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'refract.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for refract
refract
verb
English Language Learners Definition of refract
technical, of an object or substance
: to make (light) change direction when it goes through at an angle
See the full definition for refract in the English Language Learners Dictionary
refract
verb
re·fract
| \ ri-ˈfrakt
\
\
refracted;
refracting
Kids Definition of refract
: to make (light) bend when it passes through at an angle
Prisms refract light.
refract
transitive verb
re·fract
| \ ri-ˈfrakt
\
\
Medical Definition of refract
1
: to subject (as a ray of light) to refraction
2
: to determine the refracting power of or abnormality of refraction in (as an eye or a lens)
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