1. (v. t.) To cause to turn aside; to bend; as, rays of light are often deflected.
2. (v. i.) To turn aside; to deviate from a right or a horizontal line, or from a proper position, course or direction; to swerve.
Thesaurus Entries
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
