- reflection
- noun1 image in a mirror, etc.ADJECTIVE▪ clear▪ dim, faint▪ blurred, distortedVERB + REFLECTION▪ catch, catch a glimpse of, catch sight of, glimpse, see▪
I caught his reflection in the window.
▪He caught sight of her reflection in the window.
▪ glance at, look at▪ gaze at, stare at, watch▪ admire, examine, inspect, study▪She caught him admiring his reflection in the mirror.
▪ show▪The mirror showed her reflection.
REFLECTION + VERB▪ look …▪Her reflection in the mirror looked distorted.
▪ appear▪Kyle's reflection appears in the glass.
▪ stare (back)▪My reflection stared back at me.
PREPOSITION▪ in a/the reflection▪In the reflection on the glass door he could see the class behind him.
▪ reflection in▪I saw my reflection in the polished marble.
▪ reflection on▪the reflection of the mountains on the calm waters of the lake
2 sending light/heat/sound back from a surfaceADJECTIVE▪ heat, light, soundPREPOSITION▪ reflection from▪There is reflection of heat from the metal surface.
PHRASES▪ the angle of reflection3 indication/description of sthADJECTIVE▪ accurate, fair, good, perfect, true▪ inadequate▪ mere, pale▪This account is only a pale reflection of the true state of affairs.
▪ poor, sad▪The movie is a poor reflection of Kerouac's work.
▪ direct, simple▪Young people's conduct is a direct reflection of adults'.
▪ clear▪This was a clear reflection of Marc's personality.
VERB + REFLECTION▪ give (sb), provide▪Such studies do not give a true reflection of population needs.
PREPOSITION▪ reflection of, reflection on, reflection upon▪His low level of performance is no reflection on his general ability.
4 careful thought about sthADJECTIVE▪ careful, deep, mature, profound, serious, sober▪ further▪ quiet▪ personal▪ thoughtful▪Such decisions may be made after thoughtful reflection.
▪ critical, ethical, moral, philosophical, spiritual, theological, theoreticalVERB + REFLECTION▪ encourage, invite, prompt, stimulate▪Teachers should encourage reflection on the part of their students.
REFLECTION + VERB▪ show sb/sth▪A moment's reflection will show you that that can't be true.
PREPOSITION▪ after reflection, on reflection, upon reflection▪On further reflection, I'm not so sure it's a good idea.
▪ reflection about, reflection on, reflection upon▪The party needs a period of sober reflection about what went wrong.
PHRASES▪ a moment of reflection, a moment's reflection▪ a period of reflection▪ a period for reflection, time for reflection5 written or spoken thoughts about sthADJECTIVE▪ interesting▪ poignant▪ briefVERB + REFLECTION▪ have▪ offer▪They took a few minutes to offer their personal reflections.
PREPOSITION▪ reflection about, reflection on, reflection upon▪She has some interesting reflections about the spiritual state of the country.
Collocations dictionary. 2013.
