diversion
part of speech
noun (a diversion, diversions)
meaning for a pupil
1) A different route that traffic must take when a road is closed. tree →
2) Something that takes attention away from what is really happening, often on purpose. tree →
3) The act of turning something, such as a river or money, to another direction or use. tree →
4) Something fun that passes time; an amusement. tree →
sense in the lessons
In everyday life in the UK, Ireland and Australia, yellow «Diversion» signs show drivers a way round roadworks (Americans say «detour»). In stories, a character «creates a diversion» to distract guards. In geography, a river diversion channels water elsewhere. Phrases: «create a diversion», «follow the diversion», «a welcome diversion».
examples
- The road was closed, so we followed the diversion signs. tree →
- Tom made a diversion while his sister grabbed the ball. tree →
- The puppy's barking was a diversion from the real thief. tree →
- Engineers built a diversion to stop the town flooding. tree →
- Board games are a pleasant diversion on rainy days. tree →
- The bus took a long diversion because of the parade. tree →
- Puss became a great lord, and never ran after mice any more, but only for his diversion. tree →
note
Countable. Verb: divert. In US English a road diversion is usually called a «detour». In money or law, «diversion of funds» means using money for something it was not meant for, often wrongly.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «diversion» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.