diffraction

diffraction
Deflection of the rays of light from a straight line in passing by the edge of an opaque body or in passing an obstacle of about the size of the wavelength of the light. [L. dif- fringo, pp. -fractus, to break in pieces]

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dif·frac·tion dif-'rak-shən n a modification which light undergoes in passing by the edges of opaque bodies or through narrow slits or in being reflected from ruled surfaces and in which the rays appear to be deflected and to produce fringes of parallel light and dark or colored bands also a similar modification of other waves (as sound waves)

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dif·frac·tion (dĭ-frakґshən) [dis-1 + L. frangere to break] the bending of waves around small obstacles and the spreading out of waves past openings that are small compared to the wavelengths. See also under grating.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • Diffraction — La diffraction est le comportement des ondes lorsqu elles rencontrent un obstacle qui ne leur est pas complètement transparent ; le phénomène peut être interprété par la diffusion d une onde par les points de l objet. La diffraction se… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • diffraction — [ difraksjɔ̃ ] n. f. • 1666; du lat. diffractus, p. p. de diffringere « mettre en morceaux » ♦ Phys. Phénomène optique de déviation des rayons lumineux, au voisinage de corps opaques. ⇒ déflexion, dispersion. Par ext. Phénomène analogue pour d… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Diffraction — Dif*frac tion, n. [Cf. F. diffraction.] (Opt.) The deflection and decomposition of light in passing by the edges of opaque bodies or through narrow slits, causing the appearance of parallel bands or fringes of prismatic colors, as by the action… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • diffraction — 1670s, from Fr. diffraction (17c.) or directly from Mod.L. diffractionem (nom. diffractio), noun of action from pp. stem of L. diffringere break in pieces, from dis apart (see DIS (Cf. dis )) + frangere to break (see FRACTION (Cf. fraction)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • Diffraction — des Lichts, s. Beugung des Lichts …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

  • diffraction — DIFFRACTION. sub. fém. Terme d Optique. Inflexion ou détour que subissent les rayons de lumière en rasant la surface d un corps …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798

  • diffraction — ► NOUN Physics ▪ the process by which a beam of light or other system of waves is spread out as a result of passing through a narrow aperture or across an edge. DERIVATIVES diffract verb diffractive adjective. ORIGIN Latin, from diffringere break …   English terms dictionary

  • diffraction — [di frak′shən] n. [ML diffractio < L diffractus: see DIFFRACT] 1. the breaking up of a ray of light into dark and light bands or into the colors of the spectrum, caused by the interference of one part of a beam with another, as when the ray is …   English World dictionary

  • Diffraction — Computer generated intensity pattern formed on a screen by diffraction from a square aperture …   Wikipedia

  • Diffraction X — Diffractométrie de rayons X La diffractométrie de rayons X (DRX, on utilise aussi souvent l abréviation anglaise XRD pour X ray diffraction) est une technique d analyse basée sur la diffraction des rayons X sur la matière. La diffraction n ayant… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • diffraction — /di frak sheuhn/, n. Physics. 1. the phenomenon exhibited by wave fronts that, passing the edge of an opaque body, are modulated, thereby causing a redistribution of energy within the front: it is detectable in light waves by the presence of a… …   Universalium

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