Mirror
/ˈmɪrər/
Definitions
2 meaningsA surface, usually of glass coated with a metal, that reflects images.
/ˈmɪrər/
A reflective surface
She looked at her reflection in the mirror before leaving.
💡 Simply: A mirror is like a magical window that shows you your reflection. Imagine looking at yourself in a store window, that's the mirror effect!
👶 For kids: A mirror is like a shiny toy that shows you what you look like.
More Examples
The wall was decorated with several ornate mirrors.
He used the rearview mirror to check for oncoming traffic.
How It's Used
"She checked her reflection in the mirror."
"The antique mirror added a touch of elegance to the room."
To reflect or show an image of something.
/ˈmɪrər/
To reflect
The calm water mirrored the colorful sunset.
💡 Simply: To mirror something means it's like the surface reflects something else, just like a lake shows you the image of mountains above it.
👶 For kids: When something mirrors, it's like it's showing the same picture, just like a real mirror.
More Examples
His actions mirrored those of his mentor.
The painting mirrored the artist's inner turmoil.
How It's Used
"The still lake mirrored the mountains perfectly."
"The project mirrored the goals of the organization."
Idioms & expressions
mirror image
Something that is almost exactly the same as something else, but in reverse.
"The twins were mirror images of each other."
From Old French *mirour*, from Latin *miror* ('to wonder at, admire'), related to *mirus* ('wonderful').
Mirrors, originally made of polished metal, have existed for millennia. Glass mirrors with silver backing became popular in the 16th century.
Memory tip
Think of a reflection in the glass as the image in the mirror.
Practice
Word Origin
Root: miror