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.
The appearance of one or more images of a terrestrial object in the sky; also all forms of distortion of objects due to abnormal refraction.
An optical phenomenon arising from an irregular refraction or reflection of the light near the horizon.
An optical illusion created by hot air rising from the ground, refracting the light of the sky, giving the appearance of water that is not water. (See Second Timothy 4:3)
Optical refraction in the atmosphere consisting of images displaced from their true positions.
A visual phenomenon that appears to displace a target from its true position through a shimmering effect. It is caused by heated air that deflects light rays.
A refraction phenomenon the makes an image appear to be displaced from its true position. It is most common close to the ground on hot days, when the surface layer of the atmosphere is much warmer than the layer above, resulting in lower density and different optical properties of this surface layer.
A refraction phenomenon that makes an object appear to be displaced from its true position. When an object appears higher than it actually is, it is called a superior mirage. When an object appears lower than it actually is, it is an inferior mirage.
an optical illusion in which atmospheric refraction by a layer of hot air distorts or inverts reflections of distant objects
something illusory and unattainable
a kind of optical illusion that occurs in hot, still weather
an atmospheric optical illusion in what an observer sees a nonexistent body of water or an image of some object
a natural illusion that is an optical phenomenon
an optical illusion casued by atmospheric conditions, an illusory thing
an optical illusion sometimes seen in the desert or hot pavement that appears to be a pool of water
an optical phenomenon which often occursnaturally
A trick of light that makes you see a puddle of water where the ground is actually dry. It is caused by a layer of hot air near the ground bending the light so that you see a reflection of the blue sky.
an atmospheric optical phenomenon that makes an image of some object appear displaced from its true position
1. A mirage is something that you see that isn't really there. 2. An optical illusion, as of a ship in air, or of an oasis in the desert: the image seen in the air generally appears inverted: the phenomenon is due to the reflection of light through two layers of air of different temperature. Light is reflected from a far away object, and refracted into your eyes.
Optical refraction phenomenon in the atmosphere of distant objects which are displaced from their true position.
This article is about mirage, an optical phenomenon. For other meanings, see Mirage (disambiguation).