mirror
MIH-ruh
Mirror (noun) means a smooth, reflective surface, usually glass backed with metal, that shows an image of what is in front of it. Example: “She checked her hair in the mirror before leaving.”
noun
1
A smooth, reflective surface, usually glass backed with metal, that shows an image of what is in front of it.
"She checked her hair in the mirror before leaving."
"The car's side mirror was cracked in the accident."
"Before the party, he straightened his tie in the hallway mirror."
2
A website that hosts an exact copy of another site's content.
"Downloads were slow, so he switched to a mirror server instead."
"If the main website goes down, you can still read the guide on a mirror."
"The software team set up a mirror in another country to speed up downloads."
verb
1
To reflect or closely copy something.
"Her calm response mirrored his own reaction."
"The company mirrored its data across three separate servers."
"The calm lake mirrored the mountains so clearly that it looked like a painting."
How to use mirror
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething that reflects an image — literally (glass) or figuratively (matching behavior, or a backup website).
Common pairings
look in the mirror
mirror image
mirror site
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Word forms
- Plural
- mirrors
- Third person singular
- mirrors
- Past tense
- mirrored
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She checked her hair in the _____ before leaving.
Etymology
From Old French mireor ("mirror," literally "one who looks"), from Latin mīror ("to wonder at").
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “mirror” mean?
The word “mirror” means a smooth, reflective surface, usually glass backed with metal, that shows an image of what is in front of it. In plain terms, something that reflects an image — literally (glass) or figuratively (matching behavior, or a backup website).
How do you pronounce “mirror”?
“Mirror” is pronounced MIH-ruh (/ˈmiɹɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “mirror” in a sentence?
Here is “mirror” used in a sentence: “She checked her hair in the mirror before leaving.”
What part of speech is “mirror”?
Depending on how it is used, “mirror” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “mirror” come from?
The word “mirror” comes from Latin. From Old French mireor ("mirror," literally "one who looks"), from Latin mīror ("to wonder at").
Is “mirror” a common word?
“Mirror” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “mirror” have?
“Mirror” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a smooth, reflective surface, usually glass backed with metal, that shows an image of what is in front of it.
What is the difference between a mirror and a lens?
A mirror reflects light off its surface to form an image, while a lens lets light pass through and bends, or refracts, it. Mirrors are usually backed with metal to bounce light back; lenses are transparent and used to focus or spread it, as in glasses and cameras.
What are the types of mirrors?
The main types are plane, or flat, mirrors, which show a true-size image, and curved mirrors. Concave mirrors curve inward and can magnify or focus light, as in makeup or telescope mirrors. Convex mirrors curve outward and widen the view, which is why cars and shops use them.
Why does a mirror seem to reverse left and right?
It actually doesn't. A mirror reverses front to back, not left to right. Your reflection's raised right hand appears on the side facing your left because it is flipped toward you, not swapped sideways. Text looks backwards for the same reason — the image is reversed through the surface.
How does a mirror work?
Light hits the smooth surface and bounces off at the same angle it arrived, a process called reflection. Because the surface is even, the reflected rays keep their arrangement, so your eyes receive an organised image rather than scattered light. The metal backing makes the reflection bright and clear.
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