1. Thinking deeply and seriously about something:
* "She took a reflective pause before answering the question." This means she paused to think carefully about what she wanted to say.
* "The painting sparked reflective thoughts about the nature of beauty." This means the painting made the viewer contemplate the deeper meaning of beauty.
2. Showing or being the result of serious thought:
* "He gave a reflective sigh, clearly troubled by the news." His sigh indicated that he was thinking deeply about the situation and was likely concerned.
* "The poem is full of reflective verses about love and loss." The poem's content suggests it was written after careful consideration and contemplation.
3. Reflecting light or sound, often in a smooth or polished way:
* "The lake was like a giant, reflective mirror." This means the lake's surface was smooth and reflecting the sky and surroundings.
* "The polished marble floor had a reflective sheen." The floor was shiny and reflecting light.
4. Involving reflection (e.g., as in a mirror):
* "The microscope uses a series of reflective lenses to magnify the object." This means the lenses in the microscope redirect light to create a magnified image.
The specific meaning of "reflective" will usually be clear from the context of the sentence.