refract

A verb used to describe the change in direction of a wave, such as light or sound, as it passes from one medium to another.

• 🇫🇷Verbe utilisé pour décrire le changement de direction d'une onde, comme la lumière ou le son, lorsqu'elle passe d'un milieu à un autre.

1. Subject to refraction B2 formal scientific

   To cause light, sound, or other waves to change direction when passing from one medium to another.

   • A prism refracts white light into a spectrum of colors.
   • Water refracts light, making objects appear bent.
   • The lens refracts the rays to focus the image.

   🇫🇷réfracter

   Synonymes: benddeflectdeviateturn

2. Determine refracting power C1 formal scientific

   To measure the degree to which a lens or other medium bends light.

   • The optician refracted the lens to check its prescription.
   • Scientists refract the glass to calculate its optical properties.
   • The instrument is used to refract the lens accurately.

   🇫🇷Déterminer la réfraction

• refracted past participle
• refracted past simple
• refracting present participle
• refracts third person singular