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Reflection vs Deflection - What's the difference?

reflection | deflection |

As nouns the difference between reflection and deflection

is that reflection is the act of reflecting or the state of being reflected while deflection is the act of deflecting or something deflected.

reflection

English

Alternative forms

* reflexion

Noun

(en noun)
  • The act of reflecting or the state of being reflected.
  • The property of a propagated wave being thrown back from a surface (such as a mirror).
  • Something, such as an image, that is reflected.
  • (senseid) Careful thought or consideration.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1959, author=(Georgette Heyer), title=(The Unknown Ajax), chapter=1
    • , passage=But Richmond, his grandfather's darling, after one thoughtful glance cast under his lashes at that uncompromising countenance appeared to lose himself in his own reflections .}}
  • An implied criticism.
  • (label) The process or mechanism of determining the capabilities of an object at run-time.

    • Derived terms

    * reflectional * reflectionless * self-reflection

    Related terms

    * reflect * reflective * reflector

    See also

    * refraction * diffraction

    deflection

    English

    (wikipedia deflection)

    Alternative forms

    * deflexion (British)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The act of deflecting or something deflected.
  • * 1918 , H. G. Wells, Joan and Peter
    • The next morning Oswald stopped short in the middle of his shaving, which in his case involved the most tortuous deflections and grimacings.
  • The deviation of a needle or other indicator from its previous position.