1. (v. t.) To cause to turn aside; to bend; as, rays of light are often deflected\.

2. (v. i.) To turn aside; to deviate from a right or a horizontal line, or from a proper position, course or direction; to swerve.

angle angle off anticipate arch avert bar bear off bend bend back bias blunt bow change chill cool crook curl curve damp dampen debar decurve deter deviate diffract diffuse disaffect discourage dishearten disincline disinterest disperse distort distract divagate diverge divert dogleg dome embow estop exclude fend fend off flex forbid foreclose forestall hairpin help hold off hook hump hunch incurvate incurve indispose inflect keep from keep off loop oblique obviate parry pivot preclude prevent prohibit pull put off quench recurve reflect reflex refract repel retroflex round rule out sag save scatter sheer shy sidetrack skew slue stave off swag sway sweep swerve switch turn turn aside turn away turn from turn off twist vault veer volte-face ward off warp wean from wheel whip whirl wind zigzag