---
title: deflection — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «deflection» in the school dictionary: A change in direction when something bounces off or is pushed sideways: «The ball went in off a deflection». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# deflection

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** something, ball, joke, His, goal, magnet · **What happens:** bounce off, push, go, bend, move, deflect · **To what, where:** change, deflection, force, compass needle, attention, something · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«deflection» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [deflection in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/deflection.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A change in direction when something bounces off or is pushed sideways: «The ball went in off a deflection».

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deflection:m1:1
# text = A change in direction when something bounces off or is pushed sideways: «The ball went in off a deflection».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	change	change	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	direction	direction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	nsubj	_	_
7	bounces	bounce	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl	_	_
8	off	off	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux:pass	_	_
11	pushed	push	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
12	sideways	sideways	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nsubj	_	_
17	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	parataxis	_	_
18	in	in	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
19	off	off	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	deflection	deflection	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bounce off** | present | something |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **push** | present · passive |  | a change in direction |  |  |  | sideways *property* | vn urge-58.1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: subject=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 3 | **go** *in a quote* | past | the ball |  |  | a deflection |  |  | vn occur-48.3-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme in deflection=Location |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: science — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The amount something bends or moves aside under a force, such as a beam under a load or a needle on a meter: «the deflection of the compass needle».

<!-- fold The tree, 29 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deflection:m2:1
# text = The amount something bends or moves aside under a force, such as a beam under a load or a needle on a meter: «the deflection of the compass needle».
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	amount	amount	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	nsubj	_	_
4	bends	bend	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	moves	move	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
7	aside	aside	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
8	under	under	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	force	force	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	15	case	_	_
13	as	as	ADP	IN	_	12	fixed	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	beam	beam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
16	under	under	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	load	load	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	needle	needle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	conj	_	_
22	on	on	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
23	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	meter	meter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	28	punct	_	_
26	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	28	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	28	det	_	_
28	deflection	deflection	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
29	of	of	ADP	IN	_	32	case	_	_
30	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	32	det	_	_
31	compass	compass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	32	compound	_	_
32	needle	needle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	28	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	32	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bend** | present | something |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **move** | present | something *not said here* | the deflection of the compass needle |  | a force and a beam |  | under a load or a needle on a meter; aside *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V PP.source PP.trajectory PP.destination»: agent=Theme under force=Source under load=Trajectory |
| 3 | **deflect** *in a quote* |  |  | the compass needle |  |  |  |  | nom deflection «state transitive»: of=patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Turning attention, blame or a question away from yourself onto something else: «His joke was just a deflection».

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deflection:m3:1
# text = Turning attention, blame or a question away from yourself onto something else: «His joke was just a deflection».
1	Turning	turn	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	attention	attention	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	blame	blame	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
8	away	away	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
9	from	from	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	yourself	yourself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=2|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	8	obl	_	_
11	onto	onto	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	1	obl	_	_
13	else	else	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	21	punct	_	_
15	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	17	nmod:poss	_	_
17	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	nsubj	_	_
18	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	21	cop	_	_
19	just	just	ADV	RB	_	21	advmod	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	deflection	deflection	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | gerund |  | attention and blame or a question |  | something |  | away *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent attention=Theme onto something=Trajectory |
| 2 | **is a** *in a quote* | past | His joke | a deflection |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **joke** *in a quote* |  | His *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom joke «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The goal came from a lucky deflection off a defender.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deflection:x1:1
# text = The goal came from a lucky deflection off a defender.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	goal	goal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	lucky	lucky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	deflection	deflection	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	off	off	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	defender	defender	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | the goal |  |  | a lucky deflection off a defender |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme from deflection=Initial\_Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The magnet caused a deflection of the compass needle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deflection:x2:1
# text = The magnet caused a deflection of the compass needle.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	magnet	magnet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	caused	cause	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	deflection	deflection	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	compass	compass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	needle	needle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | past | the magnet | a deflection of the compass needle |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition deflection=Patient |
| 2 | **deflect** |  |  | the compass needle |  |  |  |  | nom deflection «state transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We measured the deflection of the ruler when we hung weights on it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deflection:x3:1
# text = We measured the deflection of the ruler when we hung weights on it.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	measured	measure	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	deflection	deflection	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	ruler	ruler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
9	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	hung	hang	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
11	weights	weight	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	_
12	on	on	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **measure** | past | We | the deflection of the ruler |  |  |  |  | vn register-54.1-2-1 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme deflection=Value |
| 2 | **hang** | past | we | weights |  | ruler |  |  | vn put\_spatial-9.2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent weight=Theme on it=Destination |
| 3 | **deflect** |  |  | the ruler |  |  |  |  | nom deflection «state transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When asked about the broken vase, his answer was a clear deflection.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deflection:x4:1
# text = When asked about the broken vase, his answer was a clear deflection.
1	When	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	asked	ask	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
3	about	about	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	broken	break	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	amod	_	_
6	vase	vase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
8	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
10	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	clear	clear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	deflection	deflection	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | participle |  |  |  |  |  | about the broken vase | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V PP.topic whether S»: agent=Agent about vase=Topic |
| 2 | **break** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **is a** | past | his answer | a clear deflection |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **answer** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom answer «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Without that deflection the shot would have missed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deflection:x5:1
# text = Without that deflection the shot would have missed.
1	Without	without	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	3	det	_	_
3	deflection	deflection	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	shot	shot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
7	have	have	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	aux	_	_
8	missed	miss	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **miss** | would · perfect · passive |  | the shot |  |  |  | without that deflection | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The deflection of light by a prism splits it into colours.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deflection:x6:1
# text = The deflection of light by a prism splits it into colours.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	deflection	deflection	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	prism	prism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
8	splits	split	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	into	into	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	colours	colour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **split** | present | the deflection of light by a prism | prism |  |  |  | into colours *result* | vn break-45.1 «NP V NP PP.result»: agent=Agent it=Patient into colour=Result |
| 2 | **deflect** |  | a prism | light |  |  |  |  | nom deflection «state transitive»: of=patient by=agent |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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