diversion
Other forms: diversions
A diversion can be something that takes you off the course you are on, like a detour while you are traveling, or a game of tennis that takes you away from the stress of work.
The noun diversion and the verb divert are related. Both have to do with a change of focus or direction. When you want a break from something, many diversions are welcome, like a rousing game of “twenty questions” on a long car ride. Conversely, some diversions are unwelcome, like when the guy next to you is texting during your French midterm.
Definitions of diversion
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a turning aside (of your course or attention or concern)“a diversion from the main highway”synonyms: deflection, deflexion, deviation, digression, divagationtypes:red herringany diversion intended to distract attention from the main issue
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an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates“scuba diving is provided as a diversion for tourists”synonyms: recreationtypes:bathingimmersing the body in water or sunshinedance, dancing, saltation, terpsichoretaking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to musiceurhythmics, eurhythmy, eurythmics, eurythmythe interpretation in harmonious bodily movements of the rhythm of musical compositions; used to teach musical understandinggambling, gaming, playthe act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning (including the payment of a price for a chance to win a prize)gamean amusement or pastimenight life, nightlifethe activity of people seeking nighttime diversion (as at the theater, a nightclub, etc.)agona festivity in ancient Greece at which competitors contended for prizesrock climbingthe sport or pastime of scaling rock masses on mountain sides (especially with the help of ropes and special equipment)houseplay in which children take the roles of father or mother or children and pretend to interact like adultsdoctorchildren take the roles of physician or patient or nurse and pretend they are at the physician's officefiremanplay in which children pretend to put out a firecontact sporta sport that necessarily involves body contact between opposing playersgymnastic exercise, gymnasticsa sport that involves exercises intended to display strength and balance and agilitytrack and fieldparticipating in athletic sports performed on a running track or on the field associated with itskiinga sport in which participants must travel on skissea bathingbathing in the sea or oceansun bathingimmersing the body in sunlightarcherythe sport of shooting arrows with a bowsleddingthe sport of riding on a sled or sleighskatingthe sport of gliding on skatesracingthe sport of engaging in contests of speedequitation, horseback riding, ridingthe sport of siting on the back of a horse while controlling its movementscyclingthe sport of traveling on a bicycle or motorcycleblood sportsport that involves killing animals (especially hunting)catcha cooperative game in which a ball is passed back and forthparty gamea game to amuse guests at a partypinball, pinball gamea game played on a sloping board; the object is to propel marbles against pins or into pocketsguessing gamea game in which participants compete to identify some obscurely indicated thingducks and drakesa game in which a flat stone is bounced along the surface of calm watermind gameany game designed to exercise the intellecthare and hounds, paper chasean outdoor game; one group of players (the hares) start off on a long run scattering bits of paper (the scent) and pursuers (the hounds) try to catch them before they reach a designated spotring-a-rosy, ring-around-a-rosy, ring-around-the-rosya children's game in which the players dance around in a circle and at a given signal all squatprisoner's basea children's game; two teams capture opposing players by tagging them and taking them to their own basetreasure hunta game in which players try to find hidden articles by using a series of cluesathletic gamea game involving athletic activitysporting lifeactive interest in gambling on sports eventssexcapadea sexual escapade; an illicit affaircoquetry, dalliance, flirt, flirtation, flirting, toyingplayful behavior intended to arouse sexual interestgamefrivolous or trifling behaviorhorseplayrowdy or boisterous playteasingplayful vexationword playplaying on words or speech soundsdirty trickan unkind or aggressive trickpractical jokea prank or trick played on a person (especially one intended to make the victim appear foolish)pleasantryan agreeable or amusing remarkbeguilement, distractionan entertainment that provokes pleased interest and distracts you from worries and vexationsedutainmententertainment that is intended to be educationalextravaganzaany lavishly staged or spectacular entertainmentmilitainmententertainment with military themes in which the Department of Defense is celebratedferia(in Spanish speaking regions) a local festival or fair, usually in honor of some patron saintLudi Saeculares, secular gamesthe centennial rites and games of ancient Rome that marked the commencement of a new generation (100 years representing the longest life in a generation); observances may have begun as early as the 5th century BC and lasted well into the Christian eravictory celebrationa celebration following a victory in a battle or sports competitionshowthe act of publicly exhibiting or entertainingadagioa slow section of a pas de deux requiring great skill and strength by the dancersbreak dance, break dancinga form of solo dancing that involves rapid acrobatic moves in which different parts of the body touch the ground; normally performed to the rhythm of rap musiccourantea court dance of the 16th century; consisted of short advances and retreatsnauch, nautch, nautch dancean intricate traditional dance in India performed by professional dancing girlsphrasedance movements that are linked in a single choreographic sequencesarabanda stately court dance of the 17th and 18th centuries; in slow timeskanka rhythmic dance to reggae music performed by bending forward and extending the hands while bending the kneesslam dance, slam dancinga form of dancing in which dancers slam into one another; normally performed to punk rockpas de trois(ballet) a dance for three peoplepas de quatre(ballet) a dance for four peoplesocial dancingdancing as part of a social occasionmamboa Latin American dance similar in rhythm to the rumbajudoa sport adapted from jujitsu (using principles of not resisting) and similar to wrestling; developed in Japanspectator sporta sport that many people find entertaining to watchteam sporta sport that involves competition between teams of playersthrowcasting an object in order to determine an outcome randomlytype of:activityany specific behavior
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an attack calculated to draw enemy defense away from the point of the principal attacksynonyms: diversionary attacktypes:diversionary landingan amphibious diversionary attack
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Vocabulary lists containing diversion
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
In this novel, a boy imprisoned in a concentration camp and the son of a Nazi commandant develop an unlikely friendship.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
On his eleventh birthday, orphan Harry Potter learns the shocking truth: he's a wizard about to begin his education at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.