(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
1.
To ~ vehicles or travellers means to make them follow a different route or go to a different destination than they originally intended. You can also say that someone or something ~s from a particular route or to a particular place. (BRIT; in AM, use detour )
...Rainham Marshes, east London, where a new bypass will ~ traffic from the A13...
We ~ed a plane to rescue 100 passengers...
She insists on ~ing to a village close to the airport...
VERB: V n from/to n, V n, V from/to n
2.
To ~ money or resources means to cause them to be used for a different purpose.
The government is trying to ~ more public funds from west to east.
VERB: V n prep/adv, also V n
3.
To ~ a phone call means to send it to a different number or place from the one that was dialled by the person making the call.
He instructed switchboard staff to ~ all Laura’s calls to him.
VERB: V n prep/adv, also V n
4.
If you say that someone ~s your attention from something important or serious, you disapprove of them behaving or talking in a way that stops you thinking about it.
They want to ~ the attention of the people from the real issues.
= distract
VERB: V n prep/adv disapproval