deflect

 
Pronunciation: /dɪˈflɛkt/

verb

[with object, and usually with adverbial of direction]
  • cause (something) to change direction; turn aside from a straight course: the bullet was deflected harmlessly into the ceiling figurative he 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

Origin:

mid 16th century: from Latin deflectere, from de- 'away from' + flectere 'to bend'