English Explanatory Dictionary

reflex

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An automatic response to a simple stimulus which does not require mental processing.
  2. The descendant of an earlier language element, such as a word or phoneme, in a daughter language.
  3. The ancestor word corresponding to a descendant.
  4. The descendant of anything from an earlier time, such as a cultural myth.
  5. A reflection or an image produced by a reflection; the light reflected from an illuminated surface to one in shade.
adj
  1. Bent, turned back or reflected.
  2. Produced automatically by a stimulus.
  3. Having greater than 180 degrees but less than 360 degrees.
  4. Illuminated by light reflected from another part of the same picture.
verb
  1. To bend back or turn back over itself.
  2. To reflect (light, sight, etc.).
  3. To reflect or mirror (an object), to show the image of.
  4. To cast (beams of light) on something.
  5. To respond to a stimulus.

Pronunciation

/ˈɹiːflɛks/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-AcpoKrane-reflex.wav /ɹɪˈflɛks/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-AcpoKrane-reflex (verb).wav

Word forms

reflex reflexes more reflex most reflex reflexing reflexed

Etymology

From Late Latin reflexus, past participle of reflectere (“to bend back”), equivalent to re- + flex. Photography sense is from noun sense meaning “reflection”. Compare English reflect.

Synonyms

re-entrant

Antonyms

etymon

Derived words

Achilles reflex Achilles tendon reflex time Babinski's reflex baroreflex Chaddock reflex chemoreflex digital single-lens reflex digital single-lens reflex camera excitoreflex hyperreflexia hyporeflexia kneejerk reflex mechanoreflex metaboreflex Moro reflex multireflex neuroreflex pharyngeal reflex plantar reflex primitive reflex reflex bleeding reflexless reflexmate reflexogenic reflexograph reflexology single lens reflex twin lens reflex unconditioned reflex zoom-lens reflex patellar reflex abdominal reflex abdominocardiac reflex Babinski reflex bass reflex conditioned reflex Cushing reflex dual-lens reflex dysphoric milk ejection reflex ergoreflex Ferguson reflex gag reflex Lombard reflex nonreflex photic sneeze reflex pilomotor reflex reflex angle reflex arc reflex camera reflex hammer reflexly reflex mirror reflexness reflex response reflex sympathetic dystrophy reflex viewfinder rooting reflex semireflex single-lens reflex SLR

Translations

Bulgarian: огледален Hungarian: tükörreflexes Spanish: réflex
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