refractive

Adjective
US[ruh-frak-tiv]/rəˈfræktɪv/3 syllables
Synonyms: refractiledeflective

Open English WordNet

Adjective (2)

  1. of or relating to or capable of refraction“the refractive characteristics of the eye”Synonyms: refractileRelating to refraction
  2. capable of changing the direction (of a light or sound wave)Synonyms: deflectiveOpposite straightSimilar crooked

Related words refractivity noun, refract verb, refractiveness noun

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Webster's Dictionary (1913)

Re·fract′ive (r?-fr?kt′?v), adjective

Origin: Cf. F. réfractif. See Refract.

Serving or having power to refract, or turn from a direct course; pertaining to refraction; as, refractive surfaces; refractive powers.

Refractive index. Opt. See Index of refraction, under Index. — Absolute refractive index Opt., the index of refraction of a substances when the ray passes into it from a vacuum. — Relative refractive index (of two media) Opt., the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction for a ray passing out of one of the media into the other.

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54

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