deflect

de·flect

verb \di-ˈflekt, dē-\

Definition of DEFLECT

transitive verb

: to turn aside especially from a straight course or fixed direction

intransitive verb

: to turn aside : deviate

— de·flect·able \-ˈflek-tə-bəl\ adjective

— de·flec·tive \-tiv\ adjective

— de·flec·tor \-tər\ noun

Examples of DEFLECT

1. armor that can deflect bullets
2. The goalie deflected the ball with his hands.
3. The ball deflected off the goalie's shoulder.
4. They are trying to deflect attention from the troubled economy.
5. The blame was deflected from the chairman.

Origin of DEFLECT

Latin deflectere to bend down, turn aside, from de- + flectere to bend

First Known Use: circa 1555

Related to DEFLECT

Synonyms

turn, divert, redirect, swing, veer, wheel, whip

Related Words

avert, deviate, move, rechannel, shift, shunt, sidetrack, swerve, switch, transfer; swivel, twist, whirl, zigzag; bend, curve, sway; reverse, turn back

Rhymes with DEFLECT

abject, advect, affect, aspect, bisect, cathect, collect, confect, connect, convect, correct, cowl-necked, defect, deject, detect, direct, Dordrecht, effect, eject, elect, erect, ewe-necked, expect, goosenecked, infect, inflect, inject, insect, inspect, neglect, object, pandect, porrect, prefect, prelect, project, prospect, protect, refect, reflect, reject, resect, respect, ring-necked, roll-necked, select, stiff-necked, subject, suspect, traject, transect, trisect, Utrecht, V-necked