Reflex — Defs

01 a. Directed back; attended by reflection; retroactive; introspective.

1.
Directed back; attended by reflection; retroactive; introspective.
“The reflex act of the soul, or the turning of the intellectual eye inward upon its own actions.” — Sir M. Hale.
2.
Produced in reaction, in resistance, or in return.
3.
Of, pertaining to, or produced by, stimulus or excitation without the necessary intervention of consciousness.(Physiol.)

Phrases & compounds

Reflex action — any action performed involuntarily in consequence of an impulse or impression transmitted along afferent nerves to a nerve center, from which it is reflected to an efferent nerve, and so calls into action certain muscles, organs, or cells.

Reflex nerve — an excito-motory nerve. See Exito-motory.

02 n. Reflection; the light reflected from an illuminated surface to one in shade.

1.
Reflection; the light reflected from an illuminated surface to one in shade.
“Yon gray is not the morning's eye, 'Tis but the pale reflex of Cynthia's brow.” — Shak.

“On the depths of death there swims The reflex of a human face.” — Tennyson.
2.
An involuntary movement produced by reflex action.(Physiol.)

Phrases & compounds

Patellar reflex — See Knee jerk, under Knee.

03 v. t. To reflect.

1.
To reflect.[Obs.]
2.
To bend back; to turn back.