refract Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb subject to refraction
    • refract a light beam
  2. verb determine the refracting power of (a lens)

WordNet

Re*fract" transitive verb
Etymology
L. refractus, p. p. of refringere; pref. re- re- + frangere to break: cf. F. réfracter. SEe FRacture, and cf. Refrain, n.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Refracted; present participle & verbal noun Refracting
Definitions
  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 1913