Definition of: mirage

(mi·räzh′) noun
1. An optical illusion, as of an oasis or a sheet of water in the desert, or ships seen inverted in the air. It occurs when the lower strata of air are at a very different temperature from the higher strata, so that images are seen as by reflection.
2. Anything that falsely appears to be real. [<F <se mirer be reflected, look at oneself <L mirari wonder at]