n.
- The turning or bending of any wave, such as a light or sound wave, when it passes from one medium into another of different optical density.
- Astronomy. The apparent change in position of celestial objects caused by the bending of light rays entering Earth's atmosphere.
- Medicine.
- The ability of the eye to bend light so that an image is focused on the retina.
- Determination of the refractive characteristics of the eye.
refractively re·frac'tive·ly adv.
refractiveness re·frac'tive·ness or re'frac·tiv'i·ty (rē'frăk-tĭv'ĭ-tē) n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.