3 ADJ A reflective surface or material sends back light or heat. [FORMAL ] □ Avoid pans with a shiny, reflective base as the heat will be reflected back.
re|flec|tor /r I fle ktə r / (reflectors )
1 N‑COUNT A reflector is a small piece of specially patterned glass or plastic which is fitted to the back of a bicycle or car or to a post beside the road, and which glows when light shines on it.
2 N‑COUNT A reflector is a type of telescope which uses a mirror that is shaped like a ball.
re|flex /riː fleks/ (reflexes )
1 N‑COUNT A reflex or a reflex action is something that you do automatically and without thinking, as a habit or as a reaction to something. □ Walsh fumbled in his pocket, a reflex from his smoking days.
2 N‑COUNT A reflex or a reflex action is a normal, uncontrollable reaction of your body to something that you feel, see, or experience. □ …tests for reflexes, like tapping the knee or the heel with a rubber hammer.
3 N‑PLURAL Your reflexes are your ability to react quickly with your body when something unexpected happens, for example when you are involved in sport or when you are driving a car. □ It takes great skill, cool nerves and the reflexes of an athlete.
re|flex|ive /r I fle ks I v/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A reflexive reaction or movement occurs immediately in response to something that happens. [FORMAL ] □ …that reflexive urge for concealment. ● re|flex|ive|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □ He felt his head jerk reflexively.
re|fle x|ive pro |noun (reflexive pronouns ) N‑COUNT A reflexive pronoun is a pronoun such as 'myself' which refers back to the subject of a sentence or clause. For example, in the sentence 'He made himself a cup of tea', the reflexive pronoun 'himself' refers back to 'he'.
re|fle x|ive ve rb (reflexive verbs ) N‑COUNT A reflexive verb is a transitive verb whose subject and object always refer to the same person or thing, so the object is always a reflexive pronoun. An example is 'to enjoy yourself', as in 'Did you enjoy yourself?'.
re|flex|ol|ogy /riː fleksɒ lədʒi/ N‑UNCOUNT Reflexology is the practice of massaging particular areas of the body, especially the feet, in the belief that it can heal particular organs. ● re|flex|olo|gist (reflexologists ) N‑COUNT □ By treating the body, via the feet, a reflexologist can unlock the tension in the mind.
re|for|est /riː fɒ r I st/ (reforests , reforesting , reforested ) VERB To reforest an area where there used to be a forest means to plant trees over it. □ [V n] This estate is being reforested and repopulated with wildlife to restore the balance of nature.
re|for|esta|tion /riː fɒr I ste I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT Reforestation of an area where there used to be a forest is planting trees over it. □ [+ of ] …the reforestation of the Apennine Mountains.
re|form ◆◆◇ /r I fɔː r m/ (reforms , reforming , reformed )
1 N‑VAR Reform consists of changes and improvements to a law, social system, or institution. A reform is an instance of such a change or improvement. □ The party embarked on a programme of economic reform. □ The Socialists introduced fairly radical reforms.
2 VERB If someone reforms something such as a law, social system, or institution, they change or improve it. □ [V n] …his plans to reform the country's economy. □ [V -ed] A reformed party would have to win the approval of the people.
3 VERB When someone reforms or when something reforms them, they stop doing things that society does not approve of, such as breaking the law or drinking too much alcohol. □ [V ] When his court case was coming up, James promised to reform. □ [V n] We will try to reform him within the community. ● re|formed ADJ [usu ADJ n] □ …a reformed character.
4 → see also re-form SYNONYMS reform NOUN 1
improvement: …the dramatic improvements in organ transplantation in recent years.
amendment: …a constitutional amendment.
correction: …legislation to require the correction of factual errors. VERB 2
improve: He improved their house.
better: He had dedicated his life to bettering the lives of the oppressed people of South Africa.
correct: He may need surgery to correct the problem.
re -fo rm (re-forms , re-forming , re-formed ) also reform VERB When an organization, group, or shape re-forms , or when someone re-forms it, it is created again after a period during which it did not exist or existed in a different form. □ [V ] The official trades union council voted to disband itself and re-form as a confederation. □ [V n] The 40-year-old singer reformed his band.
ref|or|ma|tion /re fə r me I ʃ ə n/
1 N‑UNCOUNT The reformation of something is the act or process of changing and improving it. □ [+ of ] He devoted his energies to the reformation of science.
2 N‑PROPER The Reformation is the movement to reform the Catholic Church in the sixteenth century, which led to the Protestant church being set up. □ …a famous statue of the Virgin which was destroyed during the Reformation.
re|form|er /r I fɔː r mə r / (reformers ) N‑COUNT A reformer is someone who tries to change and improve something such as a law or a social system.
re|form|ism /r I fɔː r m I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Reformism is the belief that a system or law should be reformed.