What is mirage meaning?

A mirage is a visual phenomenon that occurs in desert or hot environments where the temperature of the air close to the ground is hot and rises, resulting in a distorted image of an object in the distance. It appears like an oasis, a pool of water or a lake, often causing confusion or disorientation. Mirages happen because of light refraction, which bends light rays as they pass through air layers of varying densities. Typically, they occur during the hottest part of the day, often in the early afternoon or in late mornings, and they usually disappear as the sun starts to set. The term mirage can also be used metaphorically to refer to an illusion or a false perception.