avoid (
http://definr.com/avoid)
v 1: stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of
someone or something; "Her former friends now avoid her"
[ant:
confront]
2: prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening; "Let's
avoid a confrontation"; "head off a confrontation"; "avert
a strike" [syn:
debar,
obviate,
deflect,
avert, {head
off},
stave off,
fend off,
ward off]
3: refrain from doing something; "She refrains from calling her
therapist too often"; "He should avoid publishing his
wife's memoires"
4: refrain from certain foods or beverages; "I keep off drugs";
"During Ramadan, Muslims avoid tobacco during the day"
[syn:
keep off]
5: declare invalid; "The contract was annulled"; "avoid a plea"
[syn:
invalidate,
annul,
quash,
void,
nullify]
[ant:
validate]