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# reflex

noun (reflex, reflexes); adjective use (a reflex action)

«reflex» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A reflex is something your body does by itself, very quickly, without you deciding to, such as blinking when something flies at your eye or pulling your hand off a hot pan. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reflex/#m1)
2. Reflexes are how quickly you can react: a goalkeeper with fast reflexes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reflex/#m2)
3. In maths, a reflex angle is an angle bigger than 180 degrees but smaller than 360 degrees. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reflex/#m3)

### In the lessons

In science (the body), reflexes protect you: the message goes from the nerves to the spinal cord and straight back to the muscles, faster than thinking; the doctor taps your knee to test the knee-jerk reflex. In maths, angles are named acute (less than 90°), right (90°), obtuse (between 90° and 180°), straight (180°) and reflex (between 180° and 360°). In sports and stories it shows quick reactions. Phrases: quick reflexes, a reflex action, reflex angle.

### Examples

- I blinked as a reflex when the ball flew at my face. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reflex/#x1)
- Pulling your hand away from a hot plate is a reflex. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reflex/#x2)
- The doctor tapped my knee and my leg kicked by itself. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reflex/#x3)
- Our goalkeeper has amazing reflexes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reflex/#x4)
- A reflex angle is bigger than a straight line. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reflex/#x5)
- An angle of 270 degrees is a reflex angle. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reflex/#x6)
- Sneezing and coughing are reflexes that clear your nose and throat. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reflex/#x7)

### Note

Plural: reflexes. A reflex is not chosen, so you cannot easily stop it. Maths trap: a reflex angle is more than 180° but less than 360°; 180° exactly is a straight angle, 360° a full turn. To find a reflex angle from the small angle on the other side, subtract from 360: if the small angle is 60°, the reflex angle is 300°.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «reflex» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reflex/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«reflex» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/reflex.html) on Mova free.