different between reflection vs retroreflection

English

Alternative forms

• reflexion

Etymology

From Middle French reflexion, reflection, and its source Late Latin reflexio, from the participle stem of reflectere. The current spelling is influenced by reflect.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /???fl?k??n/
• Hyphenation: re?flec?tion
• Rhymes: -?k??n

Noun

reflection (countable and uncountable, plural reflections)

1. The act of reflecting or the state of being reflected.
2. The property of a propagated wave being thrown back from a surface (such as a mirror).
3. Something, such as an image, that is reflected.

5. Careful thought or consideration.
6. An implied criticism.

7. (computing) The process or mechanism of determining the capabilities of an object at run-time.
8. (anatomy) The folding of a part; a fold.

Derived terms

Related terms

• reflect
• reflective
• reflector

Translations

See also

• refraction
• diffraction

English

Etymology

retro- +? reflection

Noun

retroreflection (countable and uncountable, plural retroreflections)

1. (physics) reflection in which the reflected rays are parallel to the incident rays