Library / English Dictionary

REFLECT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Reflect deeply on a subject

Example:

The scientist must stop to observe and start to excogitate

Synonyms:

chew over; contemplate; excogitate; meditate; mull; mull over; muse; ponder; reflect; ruminate; speculate; think over

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "reflect" is one way to...):

cerebrate; cogitate; think (use or exercise the mind or one's power of reason in order to make inferences, decisions, or arrive at a solution or judgments)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "reflect"):

premeditate (think or reflect beforehand or in advance)

theologise; theologize (make theoretical speculations about theology or discuss theological subjects)

introspect (reflect on one's own thoughts and feelings)

bethink (consider or ponder something carefully)

cogitate (consider carefully and deeply; reflect upon; turn over in one's mind)

question; wonder (place in doubt or express doubtful speculation)

puzzle (be uncertain about; think about without fully understanding or being able to decide)

consider; study (give careful consideration to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

reflective (devoted to matters of the mind)

reflective (deeply or seriously thoughtful)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Give evidence of the quality of

Example:

The mess in his dorm room reflects on the student

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "reflect" is one way to...):

attest; certify; demonstrate; evidence; manifest (provide evidence for; stand as proof of; show by one's behavior, attitude, or external attributes)

Verb group:

reflect (give evidence of a certain behavior)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "reflect"):

mirror (reflect or resemble)

Sentence frame:

Something is ----ing PP

Sense 3

Meaning:

Give evidence of a certain behavior

Example:

His lack of interest in the project reflects badly on him

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "reflect" is one way to...):

attest; certify; demonstrate; evidence; manifest (provide evidence for; stand as proof of; show by one's behavior, attitude, or external attributes)

Verb group:

reflect (give evidence of the quality of)

Sentence frame:

Something is ----ing PP

Sense 4

Meaning:

To throw or bend back (from a surface)

Example:

Sound is reflected well in this auditorium

Synonyms:

reflect; reverberate

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Verb group:

reverberate (be reflected as heat, sound, or light or shock waves)

Domain category:

acoustics (the study of the physical properties of sound)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "reflect"):

reverberate (be reflected as heat, sound, or light or shock waves)

mirror (reflect as if in a mirror)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

reflector (device that reflects radiation)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Show an image of

Example:

her sunglasses reflected his image

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Hypernyms (to "reflect" is one way to...):

show (make visible or noticeable)

Domain category:

optics (the branch of physics that studies the physical properties of light)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Sense 6

Meaning:

Manifest or bring back

Example:

This action reflects his true beliefs

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Hypernyms (to "reflect" is one way to...):

designate; indicate; point; show (indicate a place, direction, person, or thing; either spatially or figuratively)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Sense 7

Meaning:

Be bright by reflecting or casting light

Example:

Drive carefully--the wet road reflects

Synonyms:

reflect; shine

Classified under:

Verbs of raining, snowing, thawing, thundering

Hypernyms (to "reflect" is one way to...):

emit; give off; give out (give off, send forth, or discharge; as of light, heat, or radiation, vapor, etc.)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "reflect"):

resplend (be resplendent or radiant; to shine brightly)

glare (be sharply reflected)

opalesce (reflect light or colors like an opal)

luminesce (be or become luminescent; exhibit luminescence)

coruscate; scintillate; sparkle (reflect brightly)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

reflective (capable of physically reflecting light or sound)

Credits

 Context examples: 

They never got over it, and every letter they wrote him reflected their reverent awe of that first mysterious happening.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Earthshine varies in strength throughout the year, since the light reflected from the Earth varies.

(Earthshine, NASA)

Furthermore, the results show that NM-MRI signal reflects concentrations of neuromelanin in tissue, rather than just the number of neuromelanin-containing neurons.

(Neuromelanin-sensitive MRI identified as a potential biomarker for psychosis, National Institutes of Health)

They are thought to reflect small blood vessel disease, and have also have been associated with dementia and other health issues in older people.

(Physical Activity May Reduce Age-Related Movement Problems, NIH)

It is important, especially to reflect the opinions in the Parliament.

(Health threats caused by mobile phone radiation, EUROPARL TV)

The first manifestation would reflect a need within you for sudden change when you feel you must break the bonds that have been tying you down.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

A characteristic or variable that reflects how a patient feels, functions, or survives.

(Clinical Endpoint, NCI Thesaurus)

She believed he was looking at her; probably reflecting on what she had said, and trying to understand the manner.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

You might not find a description that reflects your condition exactly, but please mark the one category that describes your situation the closest.

(PDDS - Category Describing Situation, NCI Thesaurus)

In short, I do not mean to reflect upon the behaviour of any person whom you have a regard for, Mrs. Jennings.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)