reflective

comparative more reflective · superlative most reflective

1. That reflects, or redirects back to the source.

   Mirrors are reflective.

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   The structure's exterior is clad in aluminum-oxidized pine, which gives it a reflective quality that complements the galvanized-steel roof.

   2026 May 28, Julie Belcove, “Farm Fresh”, in Architectural Digest, volume 83, number 4, page 93

2. Pondering, especially thinking back on the past.

   He always becomes reflective in preparation for the new year.

   1 more example

   Type 1 processes are effortless recognition of objects or situations as of a type that have been encountered previously. In an osteological context, an example would be recognition of a bone as a femur or a humerus. Type 2 processes are slower, reflective and effortful. The application of specific procedural approaches in order to arrive at conclusions based on evidence, such as hypothesis testing in science, are Type 2 processes.

   2023, Simon Mays, “The Macroscopic Study of Human Skeletal Paleopathology” (chapter 2), in The Routledge Handbook of Paleopathology, Routledge, →DOI, →ISBN, page 25

3. That reveals or shows; revealing; indicative of.

   In any event, the incident, and the media attention it attracted, highlights the sensitivity of language politics in Singapore and is reflective of the fact that this sensitivity extends to campus life.

   2019, Li Huang, James Lambert, “Another Arrow for the Quiver: A New Methodology for Multilingual Researchers”, in Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, →DOI, page 3

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   Both brides and grooms in native Hawaiian tradition wear flower garlands as a physical manifestation of their love for one another, and to some, the twining of the stems is reflective of two families now becoming one. A more tourist-friendly version established in the past couple of decades involves winding the leis around the couple’s hands to bind them together.

   2013 August 30, Kat Kinsman, “Something borrowed: Wedding traditions from around the world”, in CNN

4. computingInvolving reflection.
5. computingBy means of reflection.

   In JIT compilation, the running program is reflectively modified by an embedded compiler, which only uses two reflective operations […]

   2024, Egon Börger, Vincenzo Gervasi, Structures of Computing: A Guide to Practice-Oriented Theory, page 108

6. grammarReciprocal.

plural reflectives

1. human sciencesA supposed organ of the brain, dealing with abstract reasoning.

   Then why not subdivide the reflectives and perceptives into distinct organs having special relations to external objects, as well as divide the intellect into a reflective and a perceptive portion?

   1872, The Phrenological Journal and Life Illustrated, page 13