From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishreflectre‧flect /rɪˈflekt/ ●●● S2 W1 verb 1 image [transitive] if a person or a thing is reflected in a mirror, glass, or water, you can see an image of the person or thing on the surface of the mirror, glass, or waterbe reflected in something She could see her face reflected in the car’s windshield.Grammar Reflect is usually passive in this meaning.2 be a sign of something [transitive]SHOW/BE A SIGN OF to show or be a sign of a particular situation or feeling The drop in consumer spending reflects concern about the economy.be reflected in something The increasing racial diversity of the US is reflected in the latest census statistics.reflect who/what/how etc How much you’re paid reflects how important you are to the company you work for.3 light/heat/sound a) [transitive]REFLECT if a surface reflects light, heat, or sound, it sends back the light etc that reaches it Wear something white – it reflects the heat. b) [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] if light, heat, or sound reflects off something it reaches, it comes back from it4 think about something [intransitive, transitive]THINK ABOUT to think carefully about something, or to say something that you have been thinking aboutreflect on He had time to reflect on his successes and failures.reflect that Moe reflected that he had never seen Sherry so happy. → reflect on/upon somebody/something→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
reflect• Tax studies purporting to show that most capital gains tax is paid by higher-income individuals reflect a fundamental error.• The radar signal that reflects back from the airplane is received by the radar dish and is electronically analysed.• Plant fossils are often to be found in particular beds, reflecting conditions of deposition that were just right for their preservation.• It was, she reflected, exactly the kind of place a high-flier like Luke would choose.• His fair, freckled skin and blue eyes reflect his Irish heritage.• Picasso's "Le Miroir" is a rear-view of a model reflected in a mirror.• The culture of a nation is always reflected in its language.• From my hotel room, I saw the lights of Budapest reflected in the Danube.• Eliminate narrow job-training programs, those geared to low-wage, low-skill occupations, and those that do not reflect labor-market needs.• I was dazzled by the sunlight reflecting off the wet road.• Perhaps, she reflected ruefully, she was just easily irritated.• The three-year guarantee reflects the company's confidence in the quality of its products.• However slowly, the forms tended over time to reflect the facts.• A 1995 national survey of more than 1,000 restaurant and fast-food workers reflected the findings of Lewicki and his colleagues.• The white painted walls reflected the firelight.• In warm weather, wear light-coloured clothing to reflect the heat.• If the serum albumin concentration is normal, the total serum calcium level reflects the ionized calcium concentration.• The moon reflects the sun's rays.• This poll reflects what the Republicans of California are sensing.• The poll results reflect widespread anxiety about the economy.be reflected in something• International concern was reflected in a fresh round of criticism.• If the lower cost of funding is reflected in lease payments, leasing can be more attractive for small companies.• The increased stability is reflected in T m which for nylon-6,6 is 540 K compared with 410 K for polyethylene.• Our eating habits were reflected in the amount of fresh water we drank.• The formality of staff-student relations was reflected in the conventionality of the teaching methods used.• The tradition of sporting excellence at Coleraine is reflected in the extensive list of clubs currently supported from Union funds.• This is reflected in the fact that geography provides a substantial part of the environmental teaching in key stages 1 to 4.• People's unhappiness with Congress has been reflected in the recent elections.• This, sadly, has to be reflected in the size of royalty paid to the publisher.• The mountains were reflected in the still water of the lake.be reflected in something• International concern was reflected in a fresh round of criticism.• If the lower cost of funding is reflected in lease payments, leasing can be more attractive for small companies.• The increased stability is reflected in T m which for nylon-6,6 is 540 K compared with 410 K for polyethylene.• Our eating habits were reflected in the amount of fresh water we drank.• The formality of staff-student relations was reflected in the conventionality of the teaching methods used.• The tradition of sporting excellence at Coleraine is reflected in the extensive list of clubs currently supported from Union funds.• This is reflected in the fact that geography provides a substantial part of the environmental teaching in key stages 1 to 4.• This, sadly, has to be reflected in the size of royalty paid to the publisher.reflect on• She sat reflecting on how much had changed since she'd bought the farm.Origin reflect (1300-1400) Latin reflectere “to bend back”, from flectere “to bend” 