mirage Definition
an optical illusion caused by atmospheric conditions, especially the appearance of a sheet of water in a desert or on a hot road caused by the refraction of light from the sky by heated air.
Using mirage: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "mirage" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The travelers thought they saw an oasis, but it was just a mirage.
Example
The distant city looked like a mirage in the heat.
Example
The shimmering lake on the horizon was nothing more than a mirage.
mirage Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for mirage
Phrases with mirage
a type of mirage that is commonly seen in deserts, where the ground is heated by the sun and the air near the ground is hotter than the air above it, causing light to refract and create an image of water or an oasis
Example
The group of travelers were fooled by the desert mirage and walked towards the imaginary oasis.
a type of mirage that is commonly seen on highways, where the hot air rising from the road surface creates a distorted image of the road ahead
Example
The driver was momentarily confused by the highway mirage, which made the road ahead appear to be wet and slippery.
the phenomenon of light being refracted by a medium with varying temperatures, creating an optical illusion
Example
The mirage effect can cause objects to appear distorted or displaced when viewed through a medium with varying temperatures.
Origins of mirage
from French 'mirage', from se mirer 'be reflected'
Summary: mirage in Brief
A 'mirage' [mɪˈrɑːʒ] is an optical illusion caused by atmospheric conditions, such as the appearance of a sheet of water in a desert or on a hot road. It is a type of hallucination that can be seen in various contexts, from deserts to highways, and is created by the refraction of light from the sky by heated air. Examples include 'The travelers thought they saw an oasis, but it was just a mirage.'
