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refract

Pronunciation: [rɪˈfrækt]

Word

Learn how to use refract in a sentence: 6 audio examples across 2 meanings.

Context: “science”

(verb) to change the direction of light when it passes through different materials. Imagine a straw in a glass of water; it looks bent. That's because the water makes the light change direction.

Example

The sun refracts through the glass prism and shows a rainbow on the wall.

Example

The light does not refract when it goes straight through the air without hitting anything.

Example

How does the light refract when it enters a swimming pool?

Context: “biology”

(verb) to change the path of waves, like sound or light, when they go through different substances. This is similar to how light goes from air to water.

Example

In a lab, scientists refract sound waves to study how they travel in different materials.

Example

The sound did not refract when it traveled in a straight line through the same material.

Example

Can you see how sound waves refract when they move from air to water?

How to pronounce refract

Pronunciation: [rɪˈfrækt]

Listen and repeat as many times as you need.

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