Hypertext Webster Gateway: "deflection"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Deflection \De*flec"tion\, n. [L. deflexio, fr. deflectere: cf.
F. d['e]flexion.]
1. The act of turning aside, or state of being turned aside;
a turning from a right line or proper course; a bending,
esp. downward; deviation.
The other leads to the same point, through certain
deflections. --Lowth.
2. (Gunnery) The deviation of a shot or ball from its true
course.
3. (Opt.) A deviation of the rays of light toward the surface
of an opaque body; inflection; diffraction.
4. (Engin.) The bending which a beam or girder undergoes from
its own weight or by reason of a load.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
deflection
n 1: a twist or aberration; especially a perverse or abnormal way
of judging or acting [syn: {warp}]
2: the amount by which a propagating wave is bent [syn: {deflexion},
{refraction}]
3: the movement of the pointer or pen of a measuring instrument
from its zero position [syn: {deflexion}]
4: the property of being bent or deflected [syn: {deflexion}, {bending}]
5: a turning aside (of your course or attention or concern): "a
diversion from the main highway"; "a digression into
irrelevant details"; "a deflection from his goal" [syn: {diversion},
{deviation}, {digression}, {deflexion}]
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