refraction

noun

the amount by which a propagating wave is bent

the change in direction of a propagating wave (light or sound) when passing from one medium to another

Roots

rere- · Latin · back frango-fract · Latin · break

Synonyms for refraction

deflectionn diffractionn

Synonyms & related words for refraction

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of refraction — including deflection, diffraction. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to refraction

Explore words related to refraction — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include refractively, refringence, refringent, refractive, refractiveness, refractivity, refracting, anaclastic. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for refraction

Common synonyms for refraction include deflection, diffraction — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does refraction come from?

The word refraction breaks down into 2 roots of Latin origin: re-, from Latin re (“back”); and -fract, from Latin frango (“break”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.