The crossword solution for the term AVERTS with 'OFF' is STAVES. The word staves is a noun that refers to a group of thin strips of wood, typically used to make up the sides of a barrel or other container. It can also be used to refer to a group of musicians who play together, or to the lines of a poem or song. In this context, it is being used to mean to turn away or prevent something from happening, which is what the term AVERTS means.