n. A polished surface, as of metal, or of glass backed by a metal or other opaque substance, used to reflect objects, especially to reflect the face or person as an aid in making the toilet.n. Specifically, in optics, a surface of glass or polished substance that forms images by the reflection of rays of light; a speculum.n. Figuratively, that in or by which anything is shown or exemplified; hence, a pattern; an exemplar.n. In architecture, a small oval ornament surrounded by a concave molding; a simple form of cartouche.n. In ornithology, same as speculum.n. A Japanese mirror of cast-metal, which, when made to reflect the sun's rays upon a screen at a proper distance, shows in the reflection bright images which are counterparts of raised figures or characters on the back of the mirror. These, like all Japanese mirrors, are generally circular in form, are about one eighth of an inch thick in the thinnest part, and are usually surrounded on the back by a raised rim. The surface of the mirror is generally slightly convex, and coated with an amalgam of mercury and the metal forming the mirror. The surface is locally modified in its curvature by the characters, either by the shrinkage of the metal in cooling, or by its deformation in the process of amalgamation or of polishing. Only a few of the mirrors which apparently answer to the general description in respect to their construction possess the “magic” property in any great degree.Soemmering's mirror, in microscopy, a plane mirror of polished steel, smaller than the pupil of the eye, placed before the eyepiece of the microscope to be used like the camera lucida in making drawings.To reflect in or as in a mirror.n. A glass backed with an amalgam of tin or silver.