| deflection | 1. The act of turning aside, or state of being turned aside; a turning from a right line or proper course; a bending, especially. Downward; deviation. "The other leads to the same point, through certain deflections." (Lowth) 2. The deviation of a shot or ball from its true course. 3. <optics> A deviation of the rays of light toward the surface of an opaque body; inflection; diffraction. 4. <engineering> The bending which a beam or girder undergoes from its own weight or by reason of a load. Origin: L. Deflexio, fr. Deflectere: cf. F. Deflexion. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| deflection coils | <microscopy> The electromagnetic coils that steer the electron beam in a cathode-ray tube or image pickup tube, for example, in a raster scan (05 Aug 1998) |
| deflectionize | To free from inflections. "Deflectionised languages are said to be analytic." (Earle) Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| deflective occlusal contact | A condition of tooth contact's which diverts the mandible from a normal path of closure to centric jaw relation. Synonym: cuspal interference, interceptive occlusal contact, premature contact. (05 Mar 2000) |
| deflector | <mechanics> That which deflects, as a diaphragm in a furnace, or a come in a lamp (to deflect and mingle air and gases and help combustion). Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |