detach

detach: detach, disengage, abstract mean to remove one thing from another with which it is in union or association.

One detaches something when one breaks a literal or figurative connection, tie, or bond and thereby isolates it or makes it independent

{
detach sheets from a loose-leaf book
}

{
detach a ship from a fleet
}

{
detach oneself from one's prejudices
}

{
the mature critic whose loyalties quietly detached themselves from the gods of his generation— Parrington
}

One disengages something that is held by or involved with something else and thereby sets it free

{
she disengaged her hand
}

{
it is hard for the mind to disengage itself from depressing thoughts
}

{
I could not rest satisfied until I . . . had disengaged ... his good work from the inferior work joined with it— A mold
}

One abstracts something by withdrawing it from the place where it belongs or by separating it from a mass of like things so as to put it in another place or another relation

{
a vast cigar-shaped body of gas was raised and eventually abstracted from the surface of the sun— Swinton
}

{
abstract papers from a file
}

Abstract may imply furtiveness and theft

{
abstract eggs from a nest
}

{
abstract money from a till
}

It may imply an intention of shortening

{
abstract the essential points from an argument
}

or of concentrating elsewhere

{
abstract one's attention from one's surroundings
}

(see also ABSTRACT adj)

Analogous words: *separate, part, sever, sunder, divorce: disjoin, disconnect, disunite (see affirmative verbs at JOIN)

Antonyms: attach, affix

Contrasted words: *fasten, fix: *tie, bind: *unite, combine, conjoin

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Synonyms:

Separate, disjoin, disengage, disunite, sever, dissever, part, divide / Detail, send away, appoint to a special service

Look at other dictionaries:

Detach — De*tach , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Detached}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Detaching}.] [F. d[ e]tacher (cf. It. distaccare, staccare); pref. d[ e] (L. dis) + the root found also in E. attach. See {Attach}, and cf. {Staccato}.] 1. To part; to separate or… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
detach — UK US /dɪˈtætʃ/ verb [T] ► to separate or remove something from something else that it is joined to: detach sth from sth »Detach the reply slip from this letter and return it to the above address. → Compare ATTACH(Cf. ↑attach) … Financial and business terms
detach — 1680s, from Fr. détacher to detach, untie, from O.Fr. destachier, from des apart + attachier attach (see ATTACH (Cf. attach)). Related: Detached; detaching … Etymology dictionary
detach — ► VERB 1) disengage (something) and remove it. 2) (detach oneself from) leave or distance oneself from (a group or situation). 3) (be detached) Military be sent on a separate mission. DERIVATIVES detachability noun … English terms dictionary
Detach — De*tach , v. i. To push asunder; to come off or separate from anything; to disengage. [1913 Webster] [A vapor] detaching, fold by fold, From those still heights. Tennyson. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
detach — I verb break off, cleave, disconnect, disengage, disentangle, disiungere, disjoin, dispart, dissever, dissociate, disunite, divide, divorce, part, remove, seiungere, separare, separate, sever, split, uncouple, unfasten, unlink, unplug, unstick… … Law dictionary
detach — [v] disconnect, cut off abstract, disaffiliate, disassemble, disassociate, disengage, disentangle, disjoin, dismount, dissociate, disunite, divide, divorce, free, isolate, loose, loosen, part, remove, segregate, separate, sever, sunder, take… … New thesaurus
detach — [dē tach′, ditach′] vt. [Fr détacher < OFr detachier, destachier < de , DE + estachier, to ATTACH] 1. to unfasten or separate and remove; disconnect; disengage 2. to send (troops, ships, etc.) on a special mission detachability n.… … English World dictionary
detach — [[t]dɪtæ̱tʃ[/t]] detaches, detaching, detached 1) V ERG If you detach one thing from another that it is fixed to, you remove it. If one thing detaches from another, it becomes separated from it. [FORMAL] [V n] Detach the white part of the… … English dictionary
detach — 01. The arms of this toy robot can be [detached], and replaced with wings or various tools. 02. Roman statues were made with [detachable] heads so that one head could be removed and replaced by another. 03. [Detach] the pink copy of the form, and … Grammatical examples in English

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detach

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