detach

[ dih-tach ]

verb (used with object)

1. to unfasten and separate; disengage; disunite.
2. Military. to send away (a regiment, ship, etc.) on a special mission.

detach

/ dɪˈtætʃ /

verb

1. to disengage and separate or remove, as by pulling; unfasten; disconnect
2. military to separate (a small unit) from a larger, esp for a special assignment

Derived Forms

• deˈtachable, adjective
• deˈtacher, noun
• deˌtachaˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• de·tacha·ble adjective
• de·tacha·bili·ty noun
• de·tacha·bly adverb
• de·tacher noun
• nonde·tacha·bili·ty noun
• nonde·tacha·ble adjective
• prede·tach verb (used with object)
• self-de·taching adjective
• unde·tacha·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of detach¹

1470–80; < Middle French détacher, Old French destachier; dis- ¹, attach

Word History and Origins

Origin of detach¹

C17: from Old French destachier, from des- dis- ¹+ attachier to attach

Example Sentences

As she recovered from the foot problem, Raducanu used the time away from the match court to "detach".

From BBC

He told Salon that Republicans were trying to detach their fortunes from Trump, albeit with some growing pains.

From Salon

After failing to detach himself sufficiently from LBJ's war, Humphrey lost a winnable election to Republican Richard Nixon.

From Salon

Afterward, the researchers collected the robots with a permanent magnet and used ultrasound to detach the bacteria clinging to them.

From Science Daily

Experiments with only moderately invasive cells demonstrated the total force these cells generate on the ECM fibers is comparable to that of noninvasive cells, yet they can still detach and invade the ECM, which is not possible for noninvasive cells.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• disassemble
• disengage
• disentangle
• dissociate
• isolate
• segregate
• separate
• sever