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mirrored
/ˈmɪr.ərd/
reflected as in a mirror
The lake mirrored the mountains perfectly.
The lake reflected the mountains so clearly that it looked like a mirror image.
neutral
reflected as if in a mirror
Her face was mirrored in the calm water.
Her face appeared as a reflection in the still water.
The building's glass facade mirrored the sky.
The glass exterior of the building reflected the sky.
Often used metaphorically to describe similarity or duplication.
neutral
replicated or copied exactly
The new policy mirrored the old one in every detail.
The new policy was an exact copy of the previous one.
Common in business, law, and technical contexts to describe duplication.
Collocations
mirror imagean exact reflection or copymirrored surfacea surface that reflects images clearlymirrored behaviorbehavior that imitates someone else's
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoid confusion with 'mirroring'
'Mirrored' is the past participle (e.g., 'The scene was mirrored'), while 'mirroring' is the present participle/gerund (e.g., 'The scene was mirroring reality').
Gold Rule
Literal vs. Figurative Use
Use 'mirrored' literally for reflections in surfaces (e.g., 'The lake mirrored the sky'). Use figuratively for duplication or imitation (e.g., 'The report mirrored the original study').
Word Origin
From Middle English 'mirrour' (mirror) + past participle suffix '-ed', dating back to Old English 'miror'. The verb sense emerged in the 16th century.
Usage Notes
Commonly used in both literal (physical reflection) and figurative (imitation) contexts. In technical writing, 'mirrored' may describe data synchronization between servers.
Word Breakdown
mirror
a reflective surface
root-ed
past participle suffix indicating action completed
suffixEnglish Dictionary