Reflection: meaning, definitions and examples

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reflection

 

[ rɪˈflɛkʃən ]

Noun / Verb
Context #1 | Noun

self-improvement

Serious thought or consideration; a thought occurring in consideration or meditation; the act of reflecting or the state of being reflected.

Synonyms

contemplation, meditation, rumination

Examples of usage

  • She sat in quiet reflection, pondering the meaning of life.
  • His journey to the mountains was a time of deep reflection.
  • Reflection is key to personal growth and development.
Context #2 | Noun

physics

The throwing back by a body or surface of light, heat, or sound without absorbing it.

Synonyms

echo, mirroring, reverberation

Examples of usage

  • The reflection of the sunlight off the water was blinding.
  • The mirror provided a clear reflection of her face.
Context #3 | Noun

art

The throwing back by a body or surface of light, heat, or sound without absorbing it.

Synonyms

depiction, interpretation, representation

Examples of usage

  • The painting captured the artist's reflection of the cityscape.
  • The sculpture's reflection of human emotion was striking.
Context #4 | Verb

mirroring

To think deeply or carefully about something.

Synonyms

consider, contemplate, ponder

Examples of usage

  • She reflected on her past mistakes and learned from them.
  • It's important to reflect on the choices we make.

Translations

Translations of the word "reflection" in other languages:

🇵🇹 reflexão

🇮🇳 प्रतिबिंब

🇩🇪 Reflexion

🇮🇩 refleksi

🇺🇦 відображення

🇵🇱 odbicie

🇯🇵 反射 (はんしゃ)

🇫🇷 réflexion

🇪🇸 reflexión

🇹🇷 yansıma

🇰🇷 반사 (反射)

🇸🇦 انعكاس

🇨🇿 odraz

🇸🇰 odrazenie

🇨🇳 反射 (fǎnshè)

🇸🇮 odsev

🇮🇸 speglun

🇰🇿 шағылысу

🇬🇪 არეკვლა

🇦🇿 əks

🇲🇽 reflexión

Word origin

The word 'reflection' originated from the Latin word 'reflectere', which means 'to bend back'. It has been used in various contexts throughout history, from philosophical discussions about self-awareness and introspection to scientific explanations of light and sound phenomena. The concept of reflection is deeply ingrained in human experience, reflecting on both internal thoughts and external phenomena.

See also: reflect, reflectance, reflecting, reflective, reflectively, reflectiveness, reflectivity, reflector.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #3,141, this word is part of upper-intermediate vocabulary. While not among the most basic terms, it appears often enough to be valuable for advanced communication.