REFRACTIVE

deflective, refractive

(adjective) capable of changing the direction (of a light or sound wave)

refractive, refractile

(adjective) of or relating to or capable of refraction; “the refractive characteristics of the eye”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Adjective

refractive (comparative more refractive, superlative most refractive)

That refracts; causing or relating to refraction.

Source: Wiktionary

Re*fract"ive (r*frkt"v), a. Etym: [Cf. F. réfractif. See Refract.]

Definition: Serving or having power to refract, or turn from a direct course; pertaining to refraction; as, refractive surfaces; refractive powers. Refractive index. (Opt.) See Index of refraction, under Index.

– Absolute refractive index (Opt.), the index of refraction of a substances when the ray passes into it from a vacuum.

– Relative refractive index (of two media) (Opt.), the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction for a ray passing out of one of the media into the other.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition