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Comment by kawfey | Hacker News Reader

*reflect

Deflect means to shield an area from sun; this project is to bring sunlight into a perpetually shaded area.

To my ear 'reflect' could also mean to shield from. More so, in fact, because it tends to imply a 180 degree angle where 'deflect' implies something else. Of course people have many different associations.

Thank you for mentioning that, as a non native speaker I was a little confused.

Deflect (verb) cause (something) to change direction by interposing something; turn aside from a straight course. "the bullet was deflected harmlessly into the ceiling"

Although you are correct and GP was mistaken in their definition, `reflect` fits better here.

Definition of reflect

transitive verb 1 : to prevent passage of and cause to change direction

// a mirror reflects light

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Definition of deflect

transitive verb : to turn (something) aside especially from a straight course or fixed direction

// armor that deflects bullets, deflecting a question

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With deflect, something is simply being diverted, whereas with reflect, it's more intentionally being aimed somewhere. This is the nuance I feel innately, although at this point we're splitting hairs I think.

Yeah. Tough questions are deflected. Glory is reflected.

Deflection is typically used when the would-be target is protected from the incoming object. Reflection is when the never-was target is now a target.

Although you are correct and GP was mistaken in their definition, `reflect` fits better here.

I don't see why deflect isn't acceptable. Previously the sun was shining on the hillside below, now it's been deflected to the town square.

deflect is not appropriate in that sentence because it means that the sun itself would be moved.

What I understood is just that reflect seems to fit better here, given the most common use cases for the word.

Ray Mears documentary "The real heroes of Telemark" is also worth a look.

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