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Webster 1913 Edition


Refract

Re-fract′

(r?-fr$kt′)
,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Refracted
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Refracting
.]
[L.
refractus
, p. p. of
refringere
; pref.
re-
re- +
frangere
to break: cf. F.
réfracter
. SEe
FRacture
, and cf.
Refrain
,
Noun.
]
1.
To bend sharply and abruptly back; to break off.
2.
To break the natural course of, as rays of light orr heat, when passing from one transparent medium to another of different density; to cause to deviate from a direct course by an action distinct from reflection;
as, a dense medium
refrcts
the rays of light as they pass into it from a rare medium
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Refract

REFRACT'

,
Verb.
T.
[L. refractus, refringo; re and frango, to break.]
To break the natural course of the rays of light; to cause to deviate from a direct course. A dense medium refracts the rays of light, as they pass into it from a rare medium.

Definition 2024


refract

refract

English

Verb

refract (third-person singular simple present refracts, present participle refracting, simple past and past participle refracted)

  1. (intransitive, of light) To change direction as a result of entering a different medium
  2. (transitive, optics) To cause (light) to change direction as a result of entering a different medium.
    A prism can refract light.

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