What does refraction specifically refer to?

Refraction specifically refers to the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another, such as from air into water or glass. This change in speed as light moves between different materials causes the light to change direction. The bending occurs because light travels at different speeds in different media due to variations in density and composition. This phenomenon is essential in various applications, such as the design of lenses in glasses and cameras, where controlling the path of light is crucial for focusing images clearly. The other options, while related to the behavior of light, do not accurately describe refraction; absorption refers to light being taken in by a material, bouncing describes reflection, and splitting would pertain to dispersion rather than refraction itself.