deflector

English

Etymology

deflect +‎ -or

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /dɪˈflɛktə(ɹ)/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛktə(ɹ)

Noun

deflector (plural deflectors)

1. Something which deflects something else, especially a stream of fluid or particles.
   • 1992 Nasa Patents Available for Licensing from the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center

     The deflector assembly contains a plurality of vanes which change the direction of the solar energy to the vertical, while constantly keeping the same side of the deflector facing the sun.

2. A diaphragm in a lamp, stove, etc. by which the flame and gases are brought together to improve combustion.
3. (science fiction) A force field; an invisible barrier used as a protective shield.
   • 1945 May, Murray Leinster, “First Contact”, in Astounding Stories, volume 35, number 3:

     The blasters are those beams of ravening destruction which take care of recalcitrant meteorites in a spaceship's course when the deflectors can't handle them.

   • 1966 September 22, Samuel A. Peeples, Where No Man Has Gone Before (Star Trek), episode 3, spoken by Spock (Leonard Nimoy):

     Deflectors say there's something there, sensors say there isn't. Density negative. Radiation negative. Energy negative.

   • 1988 March 21, Heart of Glory (Star Trek: The Next Generation) (Science Fiction), Paramount Domestic Television, →OCLC:

     PICARD: If the Romulans have returned to this sector we should know about that. Mister Worf, any further activity?
     WORF: Negative, sir.
     PICARD: Slow to half impulse.
     LAFORGE: Going to one half impulse. ... Now entering quadrant nine-zero-seven, mark three.
     PICARD: Shields and deflectors up. Go to Yellow Alert.

Derived terms

Translations

Latin

Verb

dēflector

1. first-person singular present passive indicative of dēflectō

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from French déflecteur.

Noun

deflector n (plural deflectoare)

1. deflector

Declension

Spanish

Adjective

deflector (feminine deflectora, masculine plural deflectores, feminine plural deflectoras)

1. defecting

Noun

deflector m (plural deflectores)

1. deflector
2. baffle, baffle plate

Further reading

• “deflector”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014