/dɛfˈlekʃən/ DÉF-lek-shən

Definitions

1. noun

the act of changing the direction of something, such as a projectile, a force, or a motion

“The deflection of the ball off the wall changed the trajectory of the serve.”

2. noun

the amount by which something deviates from a standard or expected direction

“The deflection of the compass needle indicated the presence of a magnetic field.”

3. noun

an abnormal or unnatural bending or twisting of a part of the body

“The doctor ordered an X-ray to check for any deflection in the patient’s spine.”

4. verb

to change the direction of something, such as a projectile, a force, or a motion

“The wind deflected the sailboat off course.”

5. verb

to cause something to bend or twist abnormally

“The injury deflected the athlete’s knee cap.”