mirrors
mirrors — noun
- mirrorssingular
- mirrorsesplural
1. a sheet of glass treated on one side so that it sends back light and shows you y
a sheet of glass treated on one side so that it sends back light and shows you your own face or things behind you
Otis checked his hair in the mirror before running out the door.
check in the mirror
Naoko hung a small round mirror on the wall above her desk.
hang a mirror on the wall
The rearview mirror in my car helps me see vehicles behind me.
Children made funny faces at themselves in the huge mirror at the fair.
Constanza wiped dust off the bedroom mirror with a damp cloth.
- looking glass
older or literary term for a handheld mirror
常見錯誤
2. something that shows the true facts or character of a situation, society, or per
something that shows the true facts or character of a situation, society, or person
The documentary is a mirror of the struggles faced by small fishing communities.
a mirror of [situation]
Vivek's short stories are a mirror of life in Mumbai's crowded train stations.
a mirror of + [specific place/reality]
Faisal believes the election results are a true mirror of public opinion in the region.
The museum exhibition holds up a mirror to the country's colonial past.
- reflection
similar meaning but focuses on the image cast rather than the thing casting it
- depiction
suggests an intentional representation rather than a natural one
- distortion
a misleading or twisted version of reality
用法筆記
Frequently used in the pattern 'a mirror of + noun' or the idiom 'hold up a mirror to something' to suggest honest self-examination.
mirrors — verb
- mirrorspresent simple I / you / we / they
- mirrorses3rd person singular
- mirrorsing-ing form
- mirrorsedpast simple
1. to show or express the true nature of something, such as a society, a period of
to show or express the true nature of something, such as a society, a period of time, or a set of experiences, in an accurate way
The film mirrors the everyday lives of families in a small Taiwanese fishing village.
mirrors + [portrayal of reality]
Her paintings mirror the emotional journey of growing up between two cultures.
The novel mirrors the political changes that swept across Eastern Europe in the 1990s.
Omar's photographs mirror the quiet beauty of desert landscapes at dawn.
- distort
to give a false or misleading picture of something
文法句型
mirror + noun phrase
用法筆記
Subject is usually a creative work (film, novel, painting) or media piece that accurately captures real life. Not used for casual one-time events.
2. to match something else closely in its shape, look, or structure, especially by
to match something else closely in its shape, look, or structure, especially by following a similar course or design
The design of the new stadium mirrors that of the ancient Roman Colosseum.
mirrors + [design/architecture]
Tamar's dance style mirrors the traditional movements her grandmother used to perform.
The company's rapid growth mirrors the early success story of its biggest competitor.
The voting pattern in this election closely mirrors the results from five years ago.
- differ from
to be unlike something else in form or pattern
文法句型
mirror + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often used with adverbs like 'closely', 'almost', or 'exactly' to show how strong the similarity is. Distinguish from verb sense 1: this sense is about visual or structural resemblance, not truthful representation.
3. to make what appears on one electronic screen show up at the same time on the di
to make what appears on one electronic screen show up at the same time on the display of a separate piece of equipment connected by a wireless link
Rachid mirrored his phone screen onto the conference room TV to show the slides.
mirror [device] screen onto [display]
The teacher asked the students to mirror their tablet screens to the smart board.
Anthony mirrored his laptop to the projector so everyone could see the design.
Mirror your phone to the living room TV so we can watch the video together.
文法句型
mirror + noun phrase + onto/to + noun phrase
用法筆記
Common with prepositions 'to', 'onto', or 'on'. The receiving device is typically a TV, projector, or smart board connected via WiFi, Bluetooth, or a streaming protocol like AirPlay or Chromecast.
4. to adopt the same physical gestures, tone of voice, or facial expressions as the
to adopt the same physical gestures, tone of voice, or facial expressions as the person you are talking with, often without thinking about it
During the job interview, Nadia noticed the manager was mirroring her posture and gestures.
mirroring + [body language]
The therapist explained that mirroring a client's body language can help build trust and understanding.
After spending a year in London, Anya started unconsciously mirroring her friends' British accent.
Babies naturally mirror the facial expressions of the adults who care for them.
文法句型
mirror + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often used in psychology contexts to describe rapport-building behavior. The person mirroring usually does it without conscious intention. Adverbs like 'unconsciously' or 'naturally' frequently accompany this sense.
5. to send back light from a surface so that a clear image of something in front of
to send back light from a surface so that a clear image of something in front of it can be seen
The still surface of the lake mirrored the snow-covered mountains on the far shore.
[surface] mirrors [landscape]
The glass skyscrapers mirrored the orange glow of the sunset across the whole city.
Mira's dark sunglasses mirrored the face of the person standing in front of her.
The polished wooden floor mirrored the chandeliers hanging from the ceiling above.
- reflect
more common; 'mirror' implies a clearer, more exact image
- throw back
informal and less precise
- absorb
to take in light rather than send it back
文法句型
mirror + noun phrase
用法筆記
Distinguish from noun sense 1: this verb describes what a surface does, not the object itself. A puddle of water, a polished floor, or a calm lake can all mirror the sky — they do not need to be a manufactured mirror.