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reflective

reflective

28 4.0
A surface that sends back light, sound, or heat
  • adjective
  • /rɪˈflɛktɪv/
translation icon : reflectante
  • A stocky man in a police uniform and reflective sunglasses was waiting in the airport lobby.
  • reflective markers
  • highly reflective
  • reflective surfaces

It's going on there, but it's not really that reflective, right?

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Examples

  • Can I ask you something about this reflective surface?

  • It's important that ice and snow is highly reflective of sunlight.

  • It's going on there, but it's not really that reflective, right?

  • It's least reflective material that we know of to date.

  • But I just want to show you like just how reflective this product is.

  • And its surface was much more reflective than a typical steel hull.

  • Commander, the beam is hitting some sort of reflective device.

  • Sea foam dried in a reflective green pattern across the flat part of the beach.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • The sun comes up, driving sparrows before it, turning the corporate reflective windows wild with orange.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • The mirror is especially reflective, allowing it to bounce light around the room.

Synonyms

glossy
vsreflective
34 2.6

Having a smooth shiny surface that reflects light like paper or hair

is used for surfaces that send back energy like sound or heat, not just sheen
specular
vsreflective
  • Specialized
1 8.5

A shiny surface that reflects light like a mirror

is broader, covering surfaces that send back sound or heat, not only precise light returns
reflecting
vsreflective
3.4

A shiny surface or device that sends back light

is the same but used as an adjective rather than a participle
mirrorlike
vsreflective
4.5

A smooth shiny surface that shows a clear picture of things

is broader, applying to surfaces that send back sound or heat as well as light

Antonyms

nonreflective
  • Specialized
1 5.7

A surface that does not send back light or sound

Compounds

reflective power
  • Specialized
6.0

How much light a surface sends back when light hits it

How Reflective

reflective
28 4.0
shiny
302 1.0
dull
31 1.0
nonreflective
  • Specialized
1 5.7

Surface Forms

reflective positive
reflectiver comparative
reflectivest superlative

Morphology

reflective = reflect (transparent) = reflect + ive

Adjectival formation from the verb 'reflect' meaning 'to throw back' is literal and directly describes the physical property.

Etymology

Reflective comes from the parts re- 'back' and flect 'to bend'. That's why a reflective surface, like a mirror or a shiny road sign, sends light or sound back to you.