Refract \Re*fract"\ (r?*fr$kt"), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
Refracted; p. pr. & vb. n. Refracting.]
[L. refractus, p.
p. of refringere; pref. re- re- + frangere to break: cf. F.
r['e]fracter. SEe FRacture, and cf. Refrain, n.]
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.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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