Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
Related Searches
on Ask.com
Synonyms
Nearby Entries
diversion - 5 dictionary results

di⋅ver⋅sion

  [di-vur-zhuhn, -shuhn, dahy-]
Use diversion in a Sentence
–noun
1. the act of diverting or turning aside, as from a course or purpose: a diversion of industry into the war effort.
2. a channel made to divert the flow of water from one course to another or to direct the flow of water draining from a piece of ground.
3. British. a detour on a highway or road.
4. distraction from business, care, etc.; recreation; amusement; a pastime: Movies are his favorite diversion.
5. Military. a feint intended to draw off attention from the point of main attack.
Origin:
1590–1600; < ML dīversiōn- (s. of dīversiō), equiv. to L dīvers(us) diverse + -iōn- -ion
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To diversion
di·ver·sion   (dĭ-vûr'zhən, -shən, dī-)   
n.  
  1. The act or an instance of diverting or turning aside; deviation.
  2. Something that distracts the mind and relaxes or entertains.
  3. A maneuver that draws the attention of an opponent away from a planned point of action, especially as part of military strategy.

[Late Latin dīversiō, dīversiōn-, act of turning aside, from Latin dīversus, past participle of dīvertere, to divert; see divert.]
di·ver'sion·ar'y adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Diversion

Di*ver"sion\, n. [Cf. F. diversion. See Divert.]

1. The act of turning aside from any course, occupation, or object; as, the diversion of a stream from its channel; diversion of the mind from business.

2. That which diverts; that which turns or draws the mind from care or study, and thus relaxes and amuses; sport; play; pastime; as, the diversions of youth. "Public diversions." --V. Knox.

Such productions of wit and humor as expose vice and folly, furnish useful diversion to readers. --Addison.

3. (Mil.) The act of drawing the attention and force of an enemy from the point where the principal attack is to be made; the attack, alarm, or feint which diverts.

Syn: Amusement; entertainment; pastime; recreation; sport; game; play; solace; merriment.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Cite This Source
Language Translation for : diversion
Spanish: desviación, desvío,
German: die Umleitung,
Japanese: 迂回路
More Translations »

diversion 
1600, from M.Fr. diversion, from L.L. diversionem (nom. diversio), from L. divertere (see divert). Sense of "amusement, entertainment" is first recorded 1648. Hence, divertimento (1823), from the It. form, originally "a musical composition designed primarily for entertainment."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source

Main Entry: di·ver·sion
Pronunciation: d&-'v&r-zh&n, dI-
Function: noun
: the act or an instance of diverting: as a : an unauthorized rerouting or appropriation <diversion of funds> b : suspension of the prosecution of a charge for a period of time during which the defendant participates in a rehabilitation program or makes restitution and after which the charges are dismissed if the rehabilitation or restitution is completed —compare PROBATION —di··ver·sion·ary /-'v&r-zh&-"ner-E, -sh&-/ adjective
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see diversion on Thesaurus | Reference