Definition

1. Verb:
   • To cause light, sound, or other waves to change direction when they pass at an angle from one medium into another: This is the primary scientific meaning, describing the bending of a wave due to a change in its speed.
   • To determine the refractive power of an optical lens: A technical usage in optics, referring to measuring how much a lens bends light.

Usage and Examples

• Verb:
  • A prism refracts white light, separating it into the colors of the rainbow.
  • The water's surface refracts the image of the stick, making it appear bent.
  • Opticians use special instruments to refract the eye and determine the correct prescription for glasses.

Advanced Usage

• "Refracting telescope": A type of telescope that uses a lens to gather and focus light by refraction.
  • Galileo's early astronomical observations were made with a simple refracting telescope.

Variants and Related Words

• Refraction (n): The process or phenomenon of refracting waves.
  • The refraction of light is responsible for rainbows.
• Refractive (adj): Relating to or involving refraction.
  • The refractive index of a material indicates how much it slows down light.
• Refractor (n): A lens or other object that causes refraction.
  • The quality of the camera depends on its glass refractor.

Synonyms

• Bend (when referring to the change in direction of waves).
• Deflect (can be used in similar scientific contexts, though it is more general).

Related Scientific Concepts

• Diffract: To cause waves to spread out and bend around obstacles or through openings. (Diffraction is a different wave phenomenon from refraction).
• Disperse: To separate light into its component colors, which is often a result of refraction.

Verb

1. determine the refracting power of (a lens)
2. subject to refraction
   • refract a light beam