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Refracted: meaning, definitions and examples

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refracted

 

[ rɪˈfræktɪd ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

optical phenomena

Refracted refers to the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another. This phenomenon occurs due to a change in the speed of light, causing the light rays to change direction. The degree of refraction depends on the angle of incidence and the refractive indices of the involved media. Refracted light is a critical concept in optics and is utilized in various applications, including lenses and prisms.

Synonyms

altered, bent, changed, diverted

Examples of usage

  • The refracted light created a rainbow.
  • He observed the refracted image of the fish in the water.
  • Lenses refract light to focus it properly.
  • The scientists studied how refracted waves behave in different materials.

Translations

Translations of the word "refracted" in other languages:

🇵🇹 refratado

🇮🇳 अपर्णित

🇩🇪 refraktiert

🇮🇩 dibiaskan

🇺🇦 рефрактований

🇵🇱 załamany

🇯🇵 屈折した

🇫🇷 réfracté

🇪🇸 refractado

🇹🇷 kırılma

🇰🇷 굴절된

🇸🇦 منكسر

🇨🇿 zlomený

🇸🇰 lomenný

🇨🇳 折射的

🇸🇮 refraktiran

🇮🇸 brotið

🇰🇿 бұрылатын

🇬🇪 გამრუდებული

🇦🇿 sındırılmış

🇲🇽 refracted

Etymology

The word 'refracted' originates from the Latin word 'refractus', which is the past participle of 'refringere'. 'Refringere' means 'to break up' or 'to break off', derived from 're-' (back) and 'frangere' (to break). The term was first used in a scientific context in the early 17th century, particularly by scholars studying the properties of light and optics. It became integral to the field of physics as researchers explored the behavior of light in various substances. Over time, 'refracted' not only became a technical term in optics but also found applications in other fields such as photography, astronomy, and meteorology, helping to describe how light interacts with different environments.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #21,570, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.