refracted; refracting; refracts
1
a
: to subject (something, such as a ray of light) to refraction
Between them, Kirchhoff and Bunsen developed the spectroscope, which uses a prism to refract light.—
Paul Strathern
Paul Strathern
b
: to alter or distort as if by refraction
"Nope" is his twist on the alien-invasion film as refracted through the prism of [filmmaker] David Lynch.—Cary Darling
Cary DarlingToo often Indian food, and later Chinese—then the two most favored and accepted of foreign cuisines—became refracted through the prism of British food.—Nigella Lawson
Nigella Lawson2
: to determine the refracting power of
refract a lens
: to be subjected to refraction
The head of the figure is often surrounded by rings of coloured light caused by light diffraction. Like with a rainbow, this is caused by light refracting through tiny droplets of water in the air.—Olivia Jones
Olivia JonesExamples of refract in a Sentence
Light is refracted when it hits water.
Recent Examples on the Web
The actuality is the light of life or God shining through the artists, getting refracted through the artist towards the listener.
—Ashley J. Dimella Fox News, Fox News, 23 Dec. 2024
As Josh is saying, there were all these experiences happening in the United States while the show was being written that refracted through this story in interesting ways.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2024
With a distinct warmth, the space provides a portal into the rarefied world of equestrianism refracted through a nostalgic, tactile lens.
—Essence, 23 Dec. 2024
The final version, thanks to its production and Antonoff plumbing the lower depths of his voice, recalls the erudite, hooky gloom of the Magnetic Fields refracted through string lights on their final bit of wattage.
35.
—Maura Johnston, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for refract 
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Ashley J. Dimella Fox News, Fox News, 23 Dec. 2024
As Josh is saying, there were all these experiences happening in the United States while the show was being written that refracted through this story in interesting ways.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2024
With a distinct warmth, the space provides a portal into the rarefied world of equestrianism refracted through a nostalgic, tactile lens.
—Essence, 23 Dec. 2024
The final version, thanks to its production and Antonoff plumbing the lower depths of his voice, recalls the erudite, hooky gloom of the Magnetic Fields refracted through string lights on their final bit of wattage.
35.
—Maura Johnston, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for refract
Dictionary Entries Near refract
Cite this Entry
“Refract.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refract. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
refract
verb
re·fract
ri-ˈfrakt 
: to cause to go through refraction
Medical Definition
refract
transitive verb
re·fract
ri-ˈfrakt
1
: to subject (as a ray of light) to refraction
2
: to determine the refracting power of or abnormality of refraction in (as an eye or a lens)
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