Optical Illusions Vocabulary

noun a visual image that persists after a stimulus has been removed

adjective relating to or being an afterimage

• The afterimage of the bright light lingered in his vision for a few moments.
• I kept seeing afterimages of the fireworks in my eyes after the show.
• Dude, I swear I saw some trippy afterimages after staring at that neon sign for too long.
• The afterimage of her smile stayed with him long after she had left.

noun An optical illusion caused by atmospheric conditions, especially the appearance of a sheet of water in a desert or on a hot road caused by the refraction of light from the sky by heated air.

• The travelers were deceived by the mirage in the desert.
• We thought we saw an oasis, but it was just a mirage.
• Don't be fooled by that mirage, it's just a trick of the light.
• His dreams of fame and fortune turned out to be nothing but a mirage.