Words |
Parts of Speech |
Meaning/Definition/Similar Words |
referendum |
noun |
A diplomatic agent’s note asking for instructions from his government concerning a particular matter or point., The right to approve or reject by popular vote a meassure passed upon by a legislature. |
referrible |
adjective |
Referable. |
refinement |
noun |
The act of refining, or the state of being refined; as, the refinement or metals; refinement of ideas., That which is refined, elaborated, or polished to excess; an affected subtilty; as, refinements of logic. |
refineries |
plural |
of Refinery |
reflecting |
present participle & vb. noun |
of Reflect, Throwing back light, heat, etc., as a mirror or other surface., Given to reflection or serious consideration; reflective; contemplative; as, a reflecting mind. |
reflectent |
adjective |
Bending or flying back; reflected., Reflecting; as, a reflectent body. |
reflection |
noun |
The act of reflecting, or turning or sending back, or the state of being reflected., The return of rays, beams, sound, or the like, from a surface. See Angle of reflection, below., 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., Shining; brightness, as of the sun., That which is produced by reflection., An image given back from a reflecting surface; a reflected counterpart., A part reflected, or turned back, at an angle; as, the reflection of a membrane., Result of meditation; thought or opinion after attentive consideration or contemplation; especially, thoughts suggested by truth., Censure; reproach cast., The transference of an excitement from one nerve fiber to another by means of the nerve cells, as in reflex action. See Reflex action, under Reflex. |
reflective |
adjective |
Throwing back images; as, a reflective mirror., Capable of exercising thought or judgment; as, reflective reason., Addicted to introspective or meditative habits; as, a reflective person., Reflexive; reciprocal. |
reflexible |
adjective |
Capable of being reflected, or thrown back. |
reflourish |
verb t. & i. |
To flourish again. |
reformable |
adjective |
Capable of being reformed. |
refracting |
present participle & vb. noun |
of Refract, Serving or tending to refract; as, a refracting medium. |
refraction |
noun |
The act of refracting, or the state of being refracted., The change in the direction of ray of light, heat, or the like, when it enters obliquely a medium of a different density from that through which it has previously moved., The change in the direction of a ray of light, and, consequently, in the apparent position of a heavenly body from which it emanates, arising from its passage through the earth’s atmosphere; — hence distinguished as atmospheric refraction, or astronomical refraction., The correction which is to be deducted from the apparent altitude of a heavenly body on account of atmospheric refraction, in order to obtain the true altitude. |
refractive |
adjective |
Serving or having power to refract, or turn from a direct course; pertaining to refraction; as, refractive surfaces; refractive powers. |
refractory |
adjective |
Obstinate in disobedience; contumacious; stubborn; unmanageable; as, a refractory child; a refractory beast., Resisting ordinary treatment; difficult of fusion, reduction, or the like; — said especially of metals and the like, which do not readily yield to heat, or to the hammer; as, a refractory ore., A refractory person., Refractoriness., OPottery) A piece of ware covered with a vaporable flux and placed in a kiln, to communicate a glaze to the other articles. |
refracture |
noun |
A second breaking (as of a badly set bone) by the surgeon., To break again, as a bone. |
refragable |
adjective |
Capable of being refuted; refutable. |
refraining |
present participle & vb/ noun |
of Refrain |
refreshing |
present participle & vb. noun |
of Refresh, Reviving; reanimating. |
refreshful |
adjective |
Full of power to refresh; refreshing. |
refringent |
adjective |
Pertaining to, or possessing, refringency; refractive; refracting; as, a refringent prism of spar. |
refulgence |
noun |
Alt. of Refulgency |
refulgency |
noun |
The quality of being refulgent; brilliancy; splender; radiance. |
refundment |
noun |
The act of refunding; also, that which is refunded. |
refutation |
noun |
The act or process of refuting or disproving, or the state of being refuted; proof of falsehood or error; the overthrowing of an argument, opinion, testimony, doctrine, or theory, by argument or countervailing proof. |
refutatory |
adjective |
Tending tu refute; refuting. |