mirage

noun
mi*rage \ mə-ˈräzh \
1800{ds||1||}
  • an optical effect that is sometimes seen at sea, in the desert, or over a hot pavement, that may have the appearance of a pool of water or a mirror in which distant objects are seen inverted, and that is caused by the bending or reflection of rays of light by a layer of heated air of varying density
  • something illusory and unattainable like a mirage
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