1. (v. t.) To turn aside; to turn off from any course or intended application; to deflect; as, to divert a river from its channel\; to divert commerce from its usual course.

2. (v. t.) To turn away from any occupation, business, or study; to cause to have lively and agreeable sensations; to amuse; to entertain; as, children are diverted with sports; men are diverted with works of wit and humor.

3. (v. i.) To turn aside; to digress.

absorb abstract abuse alter amuse avert befoul beguile bend bias blunt call away change change course chill convert convulse cool crook curve damp dampen debase defalcate defile deflect delight depart desecrate detach deter detract detract attention deviate diffract diffuse disaffect discourage disengage disincline disinterest disperse distort distract diverge divert the mind dogleg embezzle engage enliven entertain exhilarate foul fracture one gladden hairpin indispose interest kill knock dead loosen up maladminister misapply misappropriate misemploy mishandle mismanage misuse modify occupy peculate pervert pilfer pivot please pollute profane prostitute pull put off quench raise a laugh raise a smile recreate redirect refract refresh regale relax repel scatter sheer shift sidetrack skew slay solace swerve switch tickle titillate turn turn aside turn away turn from turn off twist veer violate volte-face warp wean from wheel whip whirl wow zigzag