1. Throwing back light, heat, etc., as a mirror or other surface.
2. Given to reflection or serious consideration; reflective; contemplative; as, a reflecting mind. Reflecting circle, an astronomical instrument for measuring angless, like the sextant or Hadley's quadrant, by the reflection of light from two plane mirrors which it carries, and differing from the sextant chiefly in having an entire circle. — Reflecting galvanometer, a galvanometer in which the deflections of the needle are read by means of a mirror attached to it, which reflects a ray of light or the image of a scale; — called also mirror galvanometer. — Reflecting goniometer. See under Goniometer. — Reflecting telescope. See under Telescope.
REFLECTINGLY
Re*flect"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: With reflection; also, with censure; reproachfully. Swift.
REFLECTION
Re*flec"tion (r*flk"shn), n. Etym: [L. reflexio: cf. F. réflexion.
See Riflect.] [Written also reflexion.]
1. The act of reflecting, or turning or sending back, or the state of being reflected. Specifically: (a) The return of rays, beams, sound, or the like, from a surface. See Angle of reflection, below. The eye sees not itself, But by reflection, by some other things. Shak.
(b) The reverting of the mind to that which has already occupied it; continued consideration; meditation; contemplation; hence, also, that operation or power of the mind by which it is conscious of its own acts or states; the capacity for judging rationally, especially in view of a moral rule or standard. By reflection, . . . I would be understood to mean, that notice which the mind takes of its own operations, and the manner of them, by reason whereof there come to be ideas of these operations in the understanding. Locke. This delight grows and improves under thought and reflection. South.
2. Shining; brightness, as of the sun. [Obs.] Shak.
3. That which is produced by reflection. Specifically: (a) An image given back from a reflecting surface; a reflected counterpart. As the sun water we can bear, Yet not the sun, but his reflection, there. Dryden.
(b) A part reflected, or turned back, at an angle; as, the reflection of a membrane. (c) Result of meditation; thought or opinion after attentive consideration or contemplation; especially, thoughts suggested by truth. Job's reflections on his once flourishing estate did at the same time afflict and encourage him. Atterbury.