refractive, a.
(rɪˈfræktɪv)
[ad. late L. refractīv-us (Priscian), or f. refract v. + -ive. Cf. F. réfractif, -ive (1752).]
1. a. That refracts light, etc.; possessed of, characterized by, the power of refracting.
| 1673 Flamsteed in Rigaud Corr. Sci. Men (1841) II. 168 The refractive air reaches some height above our heads. a 1691 Boyle Hist. Air (1692) 190 The air..was filled with vapours and exhalations, that made it much more refractive than formerly. 1754 Dollond in Phil. Trans. XLVIII. 552 Rays, which, by the refractive quality of the glass, are made to converge. 1854 J. Scoffern in Orr's Circ. Sc., Chem. 75 Tourmaline is a doubly refractive substance. 1872 Proctor Ess. Astron. vi. 84 Its outline should be distorted if the planet has a refractive atmosphere. |
b. refractive power, the power which a transparent body has of refracting the light passing through it.
| 1709 Berkeley Th. Vision §34 By the refractive power of the crystalline. 1769 Wales in Phil. Trans. LX. 131 The very great refractive power of the air in these parts. 1831 Brewster Optics i. iii. 22 The power by which bodies produce this effect is called their refractive power, and bodies that produce it in different degrees are said to have different refractive powers. 1874 tr. Lommel's Light 60 In this way every transparent substance has its own refractive power. |
c. refractive index, index of refraction. (See index n. 9 a.)
| 1839 G. Bird Nat. Philos. 394 The refractive indices of the different refracting structures of the eye. 1873 W. Lees Acoustics ii. iii. 52 In the passage [of light] from one medium to another of a different refractive index. |
2. a. Due to, caused by, refraction.
| 1717 Berkeley Jrnl. Tour Italy 19 Sept., Wks. 1871 IV. 589 The refractive curve in an atmosphere of different density. 1879 Cassell's Techn. Educ. IV. 313/1 Three defects—spherical aberration, chromatic aberration, and refractive aberration. 1881 Clark Russell Ocean Free-Lance I. v. 234 Little blobs of hazy film trembled upon the white refractive line about the dark waters of the horizon. |
b. Refrangible.
| 1890 Anthony's Photogr. Bull. III. 417 Thereby it has been shown that the gelatine absorbs the most refractive rays most energetically. |
3. Relating to refraction.
| 1727 Thomson To Mem. Newton 124 Ev'n now the setting sun and shifting clouds,..declare How just, how beauteous, the refractive law. 1953 N. Bier Contact Lens Routine & Pract. iv. 58 [Temporary spasm of accommodation] may persist throughout the refractive examination. 1969 J. R. Gregg How to communicate in Optometric Pract. iii. 31 At key spots along the refractive procedure, build in ways of showing confidence and understanding. |
4. Refractory. rare.
| 1709 J. Nimmo Narr. (S.H.S.) 19 Kinstirie seemd not verie refractive if Park desired him to take the burthin of all thes off my hand. 1845 [implied in refractiveness]. |
Hence reˈfractiveness, refracˈtivity.
| 1843 J. Cairns Let. in Life vii. (1895) 140 Is there not too much refractiveness in his exegetical atmosphere..? 1845 Jane Robinson Whitehall xlv, He was detained..apparently with the intention of subduing the refractiveness of his nature. 1889 Philos. Mag. Ser. v. XXVIII. 400 The refractivity of a substance is the difference between the index of refraction of the substance and unity. |