Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1500-1600
Language: Latin
Origin: , past participle of reflectere; REFLECT

reflex

 noun
     
re‧flex [countable]
1

reflexes

[plural]
a) the natural ability to react quickly and well to sudden situations
have good/quick/slow reflexes
A tennis player needs to have very quick reflexes.
b) HBH a sudden uncontrolled movement that your muscles make as a natural reaction to a physical effect:
Doctor Mulholland tested Jennifer's reflexes (=especially by hitting her knee with a special rubber hammer).
2

reflex action

something that you do without thinking, as a reaction to a situation
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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