Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A surface capable of reflecting sufficient undiffused light to form an image of an object placed in front of it.
  • noun Something that faithfully reflects or gives a true picture of something else.
  • noun Something worthy of imitation.
  • transitive verb To reflect in or as if in a mirror.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A glass backed with an amalgam of tin or silver.
  • noun A polished surface, as of metal, or of glass backed by a metal or other opaque substance, used to reflect objects, especially to reflect the face or person as an aid in making the toilet.
  • noun Specifically, in optics, a surface of glass or polished substance that forms images by the reflection of rays of light; a speculum.
  • noun Figuratively, that in or by which anything is shown or exemplified; hence, a pattern; an exemplar.
  • noun In architecture, a small oval ornament surrounded by a concave molding; a simple form of cartouche.
  • noun In ornithology, same as speculum.
  • noun A Japanese mirror of cast-metal, which, when made to reflect the sun's rays upon a screen at a proper distance, shows in the reflection bright images which are counterparts of raised figures or characters on the back of the mirror. These, like all Japanese mirrors, are generally circular in form, are about one eighth of an inch thick in the thinnest part, and are usually surrounded on the back by a raised rim. The surface of the mirror is generally slightly convex, and coated with an amalgam of mercury and the metal forming the mirror. The surface is locally modified in its curvature by the characters, either by the shrinkage of the metal in cooling, or by its deformation in the process of amalgamation or of polishing. Only a few of the mirrors which apparently answer to the general description in respect to their construction possess the “magic” property in any great degree.Soemmering's mirror, in microscopy, a plane mirror of polished steel, smaller than the pupil of the eye, placed before the eyepiece of the microscope to be used like the camera lucida in making drawings.
  • To reflect in or as in a mirror.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A looking-glass or a speculum; any glass or polished substance that forms images by the reflection of rays of light.
  • noun That which gives a true representation, or in which a true image may be seen; hence, a pattern; an exemplar.
  • noun (Zoöl.) See Speculum.
  • noun (Zoöl.) a domesticated variety of the carp, having only three or fur rows of very large scales side.
  • noun Flat glass used for making mirrors.
  • noun a manner or form of backward writing, making manuscript resembling in slant and order of letters the reflection of ordinary writing in a mirror. The substitution of this manner of writing for the common manner is a symptom of some kinds of nervous disease.
  • transitive verb To reflect, as in a mirror.
  • transitive verb To copy or duplicate; to mimic or imitate.
  • transitive verb To have a close resemblance to.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A smooth surface, usually made of glass with reflective material painted on the underside, that reflects light so as to give an image of what is in front of it.
  • noun figuratively an object, person, or event that reflects or gives a picture of another.
  • noun computing An exact copy of a data set, especially a website.
  • verb transitive Of an event, activity, behaviour, etc, to be identical to, to be a copy of.
  • verb computing, transitive To create something identical to (a web site, etc.).
  • verb To reflect.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun polished surface that forms images by reflecting light
  • verb reflect as if in a mirror
  • verb reflect or resemble
  • noun a faithful depiction or reflection

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English mirour, from Old French mireor, from mirer, to look at, from Latin mīrārī, to wonder at, from mīrus, wonderful; see smei- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Middle English mirour, from Old French mireor, from mirer, to look at, from Latin mīror ("wonder at"), from mīrus ("wonderful").

Support

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Examples

  • The light that passes through this mirror is the laser beam.

    The laser at 50 ewillett 2010

  • The light that passes through this mirror is the laser beam.

    A nice blog review of Lost in Translation ewillett 2010

  • I am Intendant Kira Nerys of the ISS Andromeda, and from what you call the mirror universe.

    Archive 2010-03-01 2010

  • I am Intendant Kira Nerys of the ISS Andromeda, and from what you call the mirror universe.

    T'Pol's Temptation (Part One) 2010

  • Next to this mirror is a 20 foot version, like a child next to its mother, and a colossal 200 foot wall which only has one other like it, and that's in Malta.

    Sound Advice Peter Ashley 2008

  • This mirror is at the core of what he calls the Nawatl Topological Scheme, which is a wheel that is divided into four different dimensions, with a fifth at its center that is produced by the interrelation of the others.

    The Obsidian Butterfly 2007

  • Initially, I didn't find its ornate, elaborate style terribly appealing, but a mirror is a mirror and it was useful in our bedroom.

    Catherine Fournier's House: Mirror on the Wall regina doman 2007

  • Initially, I didn't find its ornate, elaborate style terribly appealing, but a mirror is a mirror and it was useful in our bedroom.

    Archive 2007-09-01 regina doman 2007

  • Seeing one's reflection in the computer screen as clearly as in a mirror is a major distraction and annoyance.

    Glossy screens: They look great. I think… | Sync Blog 2007

  • This mirror is at the core of what he calls the Nawatl Topological Scheme, which is a wheel that is divided into four different dimensions, with a fifth at its center that is produced by the interrelation of the others.

    The Obsidian Butterfly 2007

Comments

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  • They ask (but inwardly; they make no sound)

    The meaning of these mysteries that confound

    Their puzzled ignorance - how is it true

    That 'we' is not distinguished here from 'you'?

    And silently their shining Lord replies:

    'I am a mirror set before your eyes,

    And all who come before my splendor see

    Themselves, their own unique reality;

    - Farid ud-Din Attar, 'The Conference of the Birds', translation by Afkham Darbandi and Dick Davis.

    November 23, 2008