deflect
To make deviate from its original path or positionTo make (something) deviate from its original path or position.
» The ball deflected off his chest.
Meaning
6 senses(transitive)To make (something) deviate from its original path or position.
ablenken
отклоня́тьotklonjátʹ, отклони́тьotklonítʹ
(transitive)To touch the ball, often unwittingly, after a shot or a sharp pass, thereby making it unpredictable for the other players.
The defender deflected the cross into his own net.
abfälschen, abwehren
(intransitive)To deviate from an original path or position.
ausweichen, abweichen
отклоня́тьсяotklonjátʹsja, отклони́тьсяotklonítʹsja
(figuratively, transitive)To avoid addressing (questions, criticism, etc.).
The Prime Minister deflected some increasingly pointed questions by claiming he had an appointment.
ausweichen
уклоня́тьсяuklonjátʹsja, уклони́тьсяuklonítʹsja
(figuratively, transitive)To divert (attention, etc.).
zerstreuen
draw someone's attention away from something
To redirect culpability to avoid it.
Examples
15 sentencesThe ball deflected off his chest.
She deflected the ball with her knee.
They have a knack for deflecting blame.
The goalie deflected the puck with his stick.
deDer Torwart lenkte den Puck mit seinem Schläger ab. — Yorwba
He deflected the ball with a diving header.
Translations
5 languagesBy meaning 3
By meaning 4
Origin
From Latin deflecto, from de- (“away”) + flecto (“to bend”).From Latin deflecto, from de- (“away”) + flecto (“to bend”).
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
deflects, deflecting, deflected, deflectedSynonyms
16 synonyms- turn from a straight course, fixed direction, or line of interest:bendturn away
- draw someone's attention away from something:distract
- impede the movement of (an opponent or a ball):parryblock
- prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening; to protect from or to keep away anything undesirable; to ward off:debarforefendforfendobviateaverthead offstave offfend off
Word family
8 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle