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)
 

Refracting \Re*fract"ing\, a. Serving or tending to refract; as, a refracting medium.

Refracting angle of a prism (Opt.), the angle of a triangular prism included between the two sides through which the refracted beam passes in the decomposition of light.

Refracting telescope. (Opt.) See under Telescope.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)