Definition of mirage

The word "mirage" originated from the Arabic word "miraj," which means "to rise" or "to ascend." It was later adopted into French as "mirage," and then into English. A mirage is an optical phenomenon where an image appears to be above the horizon or closer than it actually is, usually due to refraction caused by layers of air with different temperatures and densities. This can create a deceptive appearance of water, a road, or other feature where none exists. The term "mirage" was first used in English in the 16th century to describe this phenomenon, and it has since been used in various contexts, including literature, art, and science.