mirror

1 of 2

noun

mir·​ror ˈmir-ər 

ˈmi-rər

1

: a polished or smooth surface (as of glass) that forms images by reflection

She looked at herself in the mirror.

2

a

: something that gives a true representation

the press as a mirror of public opinion

—C. G. Bowers

b

: an exemplary model

She is the mirror of feminine beauty.

mirrored

ˈmir-ərd 

ˈmi-rərd

ˈmir-əd

ˈmi-rəd

adjective

mirrorlike

ˈmir-ər-ˌlīk 

ˈmi-rər-

adjective

mirror

2 of 2

verb

mirrored; mirroring; mirrors

transitive verb

1

: to reflect in or as if in a mirror

2

: resemble

Synonyms

Noun

• glass
• looking glass

Verb

• image
• reflect

Examples of mirror in a Sentence

Noun

breaking a mirror is supposed to bring seven years of bad luck

Verb

The building was mirrored in the lake.

the still waters of the pond mirroring the cloudless sky above

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The 3,000-square-foot home was built in 1926 and featured four bedrooms and four bathrooms, plus glamorous amenities including multiple poolside cabanas, a bedroom with wall-to-wall mirrors, and a movie theater. —Claudia Williams, Architectural Digest, 12 Dec. 2024

This kind of thinking mirrors principles used in manufacturing, where visual cues help workers stay on track. —Eric Waller, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024

Verb

Fraser thinks some of it will mirror previous iterations, the way users leveraged Twitter with #MeToo and the Black Lives Matter movements. —Jason Parham, WIRED, 13 Dec. 2024

The bizarre incident mirrored one from more than two decades earlier, when a California woman tossed a pie into the face of Enron’s then-CEO Jeffrey Schilling. —David Matthews, New York Daily News, 13 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English mirour "object with a reflective surface, reflection, model of conduct," borrowed from Anglo-French mirur, mireour, from mirer "to look at" (going back to Latin mīrārī "to be surprised, look with wonder at") + -ur, -eour -or entry 1 — more at admire

Verb

derivative of mirror entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mirror

• in one's rearview mirror
• in the rearview mirror
• magnetic mirror
• mirror image
• one-way mirror
• rearview mirror
• side-view mirror
• two-way mirror
• wing mirror

Kids Definition

mirror

1 of 2 noun

mir·​ror ˈmir-ər 

1

: a smooth or polished surface (as of glass) that forms images by reflection

2

: something that gives a true likeness or description

mirror

2 of 2 verb

1

: to reflect in or as if in a mirror

2

: resemble

her presentation mirrored that of her classmates

Medical Definition

mirror

noun

mir·​ror ˈmir-ər 

: a polished or smooth surface (as of glass) that forms images by reflection