Reflect vs. Shine — What's the Difference?

To throw or bend back (light or sound, for example) from a surface.

(of the sun or another source of light) give out a bright light

To give back or show an image of (an object); mirror.

Be very talented or perform very well

To make apparent; express or manifest

Make (an object made of leather, metal, or wood) bright by rubbing it; polish

To bring as a consequence

A quality of brightness produced when light is reflected on something

(Archaic) To bend back.

To emit light.

To be bent or thrown back

To reflect light; glint or glisten.

To give something back, as light or sound

To distinguish oneself in an activity or a field; excel.

To give evidence of the characteristics or qualities of someone or something

To be immediately apparent

To bring blame or discredit

To aim or cast the beam or glow of (a light).

To think seriously.

Past tense and past participle shined To make glossy or bright by polishing.

To express carefully considered thoughts

Brightness from a source of light; radiance.

(transitive) To bend back (light, etc.) from a surface.

Brightness from reflected light; luster.

(intransitive) To be bent back (light, etc.) from a surface.

A shoeshine.

(transitive) To mirror, or show the image of something.

Excellence in quality or appearance; splendor.

(intransitive) To be mirrored.

Fair weather

(transitive) To agree with; to closely follow.

Shines(Informal) Pranks or tricks.

(transitive) To give evidence of someone's or something's character etc.

(Slang) Whiskey; moonshine.

(intransitive) To think seriously; to ponder or consider.

Offensive Slang Used as a disparaging term for a black person.

To bend back; to give a backwa d turn to; to throw back; especially, to cause to return after striking upon any surface; as, a mirror reflects rays of light; polished metals reflect heat.

To emit or reflect light so as to glow.

To give back an image or likeness of; to mirror.

To reflect light.

To throw back light, heat, or the like; to return rays or beams.

To distinguish oneself; to excel.

To be sent back; to rebound as from a surface; to revert; to return.

To be effulgent in splendour or beauty.

To throw or turn back the thoughts upon anything; to contemplate. Specifically: To attend earnestly to what passes within the mind; to attend to the facts or phenomena of consciousness; to use attention or earnest thought; to meditate; especially, to think in relation to moral truth or rules.

To be eminent, conspicuous, or distinguished; to exhibit brilliant intellectual powers.

To cast reproach; to cause censure or dishonor.

To be immediately apparent.

Manifest or bring back;

(transitive) To create light with (a flashlight, lamp, torch, or similar).

To throw or bend back or reflect (from a surface);

(transitive) To cause to shine, as a light or by reflected light.

Reflect deeply on a subject;

(transitive) To cause (something) to shine; put a shine on (something); polish (something).

Be bright by reflecting or casting light;

To polish a cricket ball using saliva and one’s clothing.

Give evidence of a certain behavior;

Brightness from a source of light.

Give evidence of the quality of;

Brightness from reflected light.

Excellence in quality or appearance; splendour.

Shoeshine.

Sunshine.

(slang) Moonshine; illicitly brewed alcoholic drink.

(cricket) The amount of shininess on a cricket ball, or on each side of the ball.

(slang) A liking for a person; a fancy.

A caper; an antic; a row.

To emit rays of light; to give light; to beam with steady radiance; to exhibit brightness or splendor; as, the sun shines by day; the moon shines by night.

To be bright by reflection of light; to gleam; to be glossy; as, to shine like polished silver.

To be effulgent in splendor or beauty.

To be eminent, conspicuous, or distinguished; to exhibit brilliant intellectual powers; as, to shine in courts; to shine in conversation.

To cause to shine, as a light.

To make bright; to cause to shine by reflected light; as, in hunting, to shine the eyes of a deer at night by throwing a light on them.

The quality or state of shining; brightness; luster, gloss; polish; sheen.

Sunshine; fair weather.

A liking for a person; a fancy.

Caper; antic; row.

Shining; sheen.

The quality of being bright and sending out rays of light

Be bright by reflecting or casting light;

Emit light; be bright, as of the sun or a light;

Be shiny, as if wet;

Be distinguished or eminent;

Be clear and obvious;

Especially of the complexion: show a strong bright color, such as red or pink;

Throw or flash the light of (a lamp, etc.);

Touch or seem as if touching visually or audibly;

Experience a feeling of well-being or happiness, as from good health or an intense emotion;

(of surfaces) make shine;