detach
verb /dɪˈtætʃ/
/dɪˈtætʃ/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they detach | /dɪˈtætʃ/ /dɪˈtætʃ/ |
| he / she / it detaches | /dɪˈtætʃɪz/ /dɪˈtætʃɪz/ |
| past simple detached | /dɪˈtætʃt/ /dɪˈtætʃt/ |
| past participle detached | /dɪˈtætʃt/ /dɪˈtætʃt/ |
| -ing form detaching | /dɪˈtætʃɪŋ/ /dɪˈtætʃɪŋ/ |
- [transitive, intransitive] to remove something from something larger; to become separated from something
- detach something Detach the coupon and return it as soon as possible.
- detach something from something One of the panels had become detached from the main structure.
- detach (from something) The skis should detach from the boot if you fall.
- [transitive] detach yourself (from somebody/something) (formal) to leave or separate yourself from somebody/something
- She detached herself from his embrace.
- (figurative) I tried to detach myself from the reality of these terrible events.
- A figure in white detached itself from the shadows.
- [transitive] detach somebody/something (specialist) to send a group of soldiers, etc. away from the main group, especially to do special duties
- Five destroyers were detached to carry out a bombardment of the port.
Word Originlate 16th cent. (in the sense ‘discharge a gun’): from French détacher, earlier destacher, from des- (expressing reversal) + attacher ‘attach’.