divert

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. v. To turn aside from a course or direction: Traffic was diverted around the scene of the accident.
2. v. To distract: My attention was diverted by an argument between motorists.
3. v. To entertain by distracting the attention from worrisome thoughts or cares; amuse. See Synonyms at amuse.
4. v. To turn aside.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. To turn aside or away; change the direction or course of; cause to move or act in a different line or manner: as, to divert a stream from its bed; to divert the mind from its troubles; he was diverted from his purpose.
2. To turn to a different point or end; change the aim or destination of; draw to another course, purpose, or destiny.
3. To turn from customary or serious occupation; furnish diversion to; amuse; entertain.
4. To subvert; destroy.
5. Synonyms To draw away. See absent, a.
6. Amuse, Divert, Entertain, etc. (see amuse); to delight, exhilarate.
7. To turn aside; turn out of one's way; digress.

Wiktionary

1. v. transitive To turn aside from a course.
2. v. transitive To distract.
3. v. transitive To entertain or amuse (by diverting the attention)
4. v. obsolete, intransitive To turn aside; to digress.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. v. To turn aside; to turn off from any course or intended application; to deflect
2. v. To turn away from any occupation, business, or study; to cause to have lively and agreeable sensations; to amuse; to entertain
3. v. obsolete To turn aside; to digress.

WordNet 3.0

1. v. withdraw (money) and move into a different location, often secretly and with dishonest intentions
2. v. turn aside; turn away from
3. v. occupy in an agreeable, entertaining or pleasant fashion
4. v. send on a course or in a direction different from the planned or intended one