WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Re*fract" (r*fr$kt")
Part of Speech : v.
Etymology : [L. refractus, p. p. of refringere; pref. re- re- + frangere to break: cf. F. r?fracter. SEe FRacture, and cf. Refrain, n.]
Definition : 1. To bend sharply and abruptly back; to break off.

2. To break the natural course of, as rays of light orr heat, when passing from one transparent medium to another of different density; to cause to deviate from a direct course by an action distinct from reflection; as, a dense medium refrcts the rays of light as they pass into it from a rare medium.

t. [imp. & p. p. Refracted; p. pr. & vb. n. Refracting.]
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913