'Deflect' definitions:
Definition of 'deflect'
(from WordNet)
verb
Prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening; "Let's avoid a confrontation"; "head off a confrontation"; "avert a strike" [syn: debar, forefend, forfend, obviate, deflect, avert, head off, stave off, fend off, avoid, ward off]
verb
verb
Turn aside and away from an initial or intended course
verb
Draw someone's attention away from something; "The thief distracted the bystanders"; "He deflected his competitors" [syn: distract, deflect]
verb
Definition of 'Deflect'
From: GCIDE
- Deflect \De*flect"\, v. i. To turn aside; to deviate from a right or a horizontal line, or from a proper position, course or direction; to swerve. [1913 Webster]
- At some part of the Azores, the needle deflecteth not, but lieth in the true meridian. --Sir T. Browne. [1913 Webster]
- To deflect from the line of truth and reason. --Warburton. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'deflect'
From: GCIDE
- deflect \de*flect"\ (d[-e]*fl[e^]kt"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deflected; p. pr. & vb. n. Deflecting.] [L. deflectere; de- + flectere to bend or turn. See Flexible.] To cause to turn aside; to bend; as, rays of light are often deflected; to deflect a punch; to deflect criticism by acknowledging a mistake. [1913 Webster +PJC]
- Sitting with their knees deflected under them. --Lord (1630). [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'deflect'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- angle,
- angle off,
- anticipate,
- arch,
- avert,
- bar,
- bear off,
- bend,
- bend back,
- bias,
- blunt,
- bow,
- change,
- chill,
- cool,
- crook,
- curl,
- curve,
- damp,
- dampen,
- debar,
- decurve,
- deter,
- deviate,
- diffract,
- diffuse,
- disaffect,
- discourage,
- dishearten,
- disincline,
- disinterest,
- disperse,
- distort,
- distract,
- divagate,
- diverge,
- divert,
- dogleg,
- dome,
- embow,
- estop,
- exclude,
- fend,
- fend off,
- flex,
- forbid,
- foreclose,
- forestall,
- hairpin,
- help,
- hold off,
- hook,
- hump,
- hunch,
- incurvate,
- incurve,
- indispose,
- inflect,
- keep from,
- keep off,
- loop,
- oblique,
- obviate,
- parry,
- pivot,
- preclude,
- prevent,
- prohibit,
- pull,
- put off,
- quench,
- recurve,
- reflect,
- reflex,
- refract,
- repel,
- retroflex,
- round,
- rule out,
- sag,
- save,
- scatter,
- sheer,
- shy,
- sidetrack,
- skew,
- slue,
- stave off,
- swag,
- sway,
- sweep,
- swerve,
- switch,
- turn,
- turn aside,
- turn away,
- turn from,
- turn off,
- twist,
- vault,
- veer,
- volte-face,
- ward off,
- warp,
- wean from,
- wheel,
- whip,
- whirl,
- wind,
- zigzag