reflex

[ adjective, noun ree-fleks; verb ri-fleks ]
/ adjective, noun ˈri flɛks; verb rɪˈflɛks /

adjective

noun

verb (used with object)

Origin of reflex

1500–10; < Latin reflexus bent back, past participle of reflectere to reflect

OTHER WORDS FROM reflex

re·flex·ly, adverb re·flex·ness, noun mul·ti·re·flex, noun sem·i·re·flex, noun

Words nearby reflex

reflectivity, reflectometer, reflector, reflectorize, reflet, reflex, reflex angle, reflex arc, reflex camera, reflex cough, reflex epilepsy

Example sentences from the Web for reflex-action

  • Even the psychologist with his reflex-action theory does not solve the whole problem.

    The Book of Khalid |Ameen Rihani

British Dictionary definitions for reflex-action

reflex

noun (ˈriːflɛks)

adjective (ˈriːflɛks)

maths (of an angle) between 180° and 360°
(prenominal) turned, reflected, or bent backwards

verb (rɪˈflɛks)

(tr) to bend, turn, or reflect backwards

Derived forms of reflex

reflexible, adjective reflexibility, noun

Word Origin for reflex

C16: from Latin reflexus bent back, from reflectere to reflect

Medical definitions for reflex-action

reflex
[ rē′flĕks′ ]

n.

adj.

Being an involuntary action or response, such as a sneeze, blink, or hiccup.
Bent, turned, or thrown back; reflected.

v.

To cause to undergo a reflex process.
To reflect.

Scientific definitions for reflex-action

reflex
[ rē′flĕks′ ]

An involuntary physiological response to a stimulus, as the withdrawal of a body part from burning heat.
An unlearned or instinctive response to a stimulus. Also called unconditioned response See more at classical conditioning.

Cultural definitions for reflex-action

reflex

An action or movement not controlled by conscious thought. A reflex may be anything from a hiccup to the involuntary response of a body part, such as the action that occurs in the knee-jerk reflex.