mirage
pronunciation
How to pronounce mirage in British English:
UK [ˈmɪrɑ:ʒ]
How to pronounce mirage in American English:
US [məˈrɑʒ]
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- Noun:
- an optical illusion in which atmospheric refraction by a layer of hot air distorts or inverts reflections of distant objects
- something illusory and unattainable
Word Origin
- mirage (n.)
- "optical illusion of water in sandy deserts," 1812, from French mirage (1753), from se mirer "to be reflected," from Latin mirare (see mirror (n.)). Or the French word is from Latin mirus "wonderful" (see miracle). Similarity to Arabic mi'raj has been noted, but the usual sense of that word is "ladder, stairs; climb, ascent," and the resemblance appears to be coincidental. The standard Arabic for "a desert mirage" is sarāb.
Example
- 1. The trouble is that it 's mostly a mirage .
- 2. It is like a mirage and yet quite real .
- 3. Vision or mirage , dr de grey has defined the problem precisely .
- 4. With this type of a mirage , the refracted image appears above the true image .
- 5. Now even the optimists fear this wonderful prospect may be a mirage .