MIRAGE

mirage

(noun) something illusory and unattainable

mirage

(noun) an optical illusion in which atmospheric refraction by a layer of hot air distorts or inverts reflections of distant objects

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

mirage (plural mirages)

An optical phenomenon in which light is refracted through a layer of hot air close to the ground, giving the appearance of there being refuge in the distance.

Hypernym: optical illusion

Hyponym: Fata Morgana

(figuratively) An illusion.

Verb

mirage (third-person singular simple present mirages, present participle miraging, simple past and past participle miraged)

(transitive) To cause to appear as or like a mirage.

Anagrams

• Margie, gamier, imager, maigre

Source: Wiktionary

Mi`rage", n. Etym: [F., fr. mirer to look at carefully, to aim, se mirer to look at one's self in a glass, to reflect, to be reflected, LL. mirare to look at. See Mirror.]

Definition: An optical effect, sometimes seen on the ocean, but more frequently in deserts, due to total reflection of light at the surface common to two strata of air differently heated. The reflected image is seen, commonly in an inverted position, while the real object may or may not be in sight. When the surface is horizontal, and below the eye, the appearance is that of a sheet of water in which the object is seen reflected; when the reflecting surface is above the eye, the image is seen projected against the sky. The fata Morgana and looming are species of mirage. By the mirage uplifted the land floats vague in the ether, Ships and the shadows of ships hang in the motionless air. Longfellow.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition