deflect

A deflection is when something changes direction because of an outside force. Imagine throwing a ball that hits a wall and bounces off – the ball has been deflected.

When we talk about deflecting something, it usually means making it change direction or path because of an external influence. Think about sports: in tennis, a player might hit the ball to make it curve around their opponent's reach, using spin to deflect its trajectory. In everyday life, you might use your body to deflect a falling object, like a book that's slipping off a table. In science and technology, things like mirrors or lenses can be used to deflect light or radiation.