cause (something) to change direction; turn aside from a straight course:the bullet was deflected harmlessly into the ceiling figurativehe attempted to deflect attention away from his private life
[no object, with adverbial of direction] (of an object) change direction after hitting something:the ball deflected off Knight’s body
cause (someone) to deviate from an intended purpose:she refused to be deflected from anything she had set her mind on
cause (something) to change orientation:the compass needle is deflected from magnetic north by metal in the aircraft
