From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishrefractre‧fract /rɪˈfrækt/ verb [transitive] technicalHP if glass or water refracts light, the light changes direction when it passes through the glass or water —refraction /rɪˈfrækʃən/ noun [uncountable]→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
refract• More light is refracted below the surface, and algae, especially diatoms. rapidly become plentiful.• Metal refracts it while organic material absorbs it. 3.• Like light, seismic waves can reflect and refract off a surface.• Precision-cut, liberated from the leadline, the mosaic edges refract the light in scintillating, unpredictable ways.• We drove through undulating farmland and it was as if the light were refracted through amethyst.• Light is refracted through each column.Origin refract (1600-1700) Latin past participle of refringere “to break open”, from frangere “to break” 