/ dɪˈflekt; NAmE / verb
1.
to change direction or make sth change direction, especially after hitting sth :
[ v ]
The ball deflected off Reid's body into the goal.
[ vn ]
He raised his arm to try to deflect the blow.
2.
[ vn ] to succeed in preventing sth from being directed towards you
SYN divert :
All attempts to deflect attention from his private life have failed.
She sought to deflect criticism by blaming her family.
3.
[ vn ] deflect sb (from sth) to prevent sb from doing sth that they are determined to do :
The government will not be deflected from its commitments.
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: from Latin deflectere , from de- away from + flectere to bend.