Definition of DETACH

detach

Verb

Verb Forms: detached, detaching, detaches

  • To unfasten and separate something from a larger whole.
  • cause to become detached or separated; take off
    • "detach the skin from the chicken before you eat it"
  • separate (a small unit) from a larger, especially for a special assignment
    • "detach a regiment"
  • come to be detached
    • "His retina detached and he had to be rushed into surgery"
  • To take apart from; to take off.
  • To separate for a special object or use.
  • To come off something.

Examples

  • Now that the zipper has detached, my winter coat won't keep me very warm.
  • Sometimes you need to DETACH from a favorite letter, using it to make a new word.
  • to detach a ship from a fleet, or a company from a regiment
  • to detach the tag from a newly purchased garment

Origin / Etymology

From Old French destachier, from the same root as attach; compare French détacher and Portuguese and Spanish destacar.

Synonyms

come away, come off, allocate, deadhere, disconnect, disengage, earmark, fall off, set apart, unfasten

Antonyms

attach

Scrabble Score: 12

detach: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
detach: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
detach: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 12

detach: valid Words With Friends Word