mirage

Meaning

Noun

1. An optical phenomenon in which light is refracted through a layer of hot air close to the ground, often giving the illusion of a body of water.
2. (figuratively) An illusion.

Verb

To cause to appear as or like a mirage.

Synonyms

optical illusion

illusion

delusion

fata morgana

heat haze

chimera

apparition

will o the wisp

fantasy

hallucination

optical

phantasm

phantasma

Translations

mirage

espejismo

Luftspiegelung

Fata Morgana

αντικατοπτρισμός

miraggio

luchtspiegeling

miratge

miragem

οφθαλμαπάτη

serap

fata morgana

Trugbild

Pronounced as (IPA)

/mɪˈɹɑːʒ/

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from French mirage c. 1812.