n. [ Cf. F. diffraction. ] (Opt.) The deflection and decomposition of light in passing by the edges of opaque bodies or through narrow slits, causing the appearance of parallel bands or fringes of prismatic colors, as by the action of a grating of fine lines or bars. [ 1913 Webster ]
Remarked by Grimaldi (1665), and referred by him to a property of light which he called diffraction. Whewell. [ 1913 Webster ]
Diffraction grating. (Optics)
Diffraction spectrum. (Optics)
v. t. (Chem.) To separate by means of, or to subject to, fractional distillation or crystallization; to fractionate; -- frequently used with out;
n. [ F. fraction, L. fractio a breaking, fr. frangere, fractum, to break. See Break. ]
Neither can the natural body of Christ be subject to any fraction or breaking up. Foxe. [ 1913 Webster ]
Some niggard fractions of an hour. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]
Common fraction,
Vulgar fraction
Complex fraction,
Compound fraction,
Continued fraction,
Decimal fraction,
Partial fraction, etc.
Improper fraction,
Proper fraction,
a.
Fractional crystallization (Chem.),
Fractional currency,
Fractional distillation (Chem.),
adv. By fractions or separate portions;
a. Fractional. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t. To separate (a mixture of chemical substances) into different portions or fractions, as in the distillation of liquids. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. the act or process of separating a mixture into portions of different composition, as in distillation or
n. [ L. infractio: cf. F. infraction. ] The act of infracting or breaking; breach; violation; nonobservance; infringement;
n. [ F. réfraction. ]
Refraction out of the rarer medium into the denser, is made towards the perpendicular. Sir I. Newton. [ 1913 Webster ]
Angle of refraction (Opt.),
Conical refraction (Opt.),
Differential refraction (Astron.),
Double refraction (Opt.),
Index of refraction.
Refraction circle (Opt.),
Refraction of latitude,
longitude,
declination,
right ascension
Terrestrial refraction,