Definition of DETENT

detent

Plural: detents

Noun

  • A catch or lever that locks or stops a mechanism.
  • a hinged catch that fits into a notch of a ratchet to move a wheel forward or prevent it from moving backward
  • That which locks or unlocks a movement; a catch (stopping mechanism), pawl, or dog; especially, in clockwork, the catch which locks and unlocks the wheelwork in striking.

Verb

  • The action of locking or unlocking movement by way of a detent mechanism

Examples

  • The strategically placed ’Q’ served as a DETENT, blocking any further expansion in that row.

Origin / Etymology

From French détente, from Latin tendō (“to stretch”).

Synonyms

click, dog, pawl

Scrabble Score: 7

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

Words With Friends Score: 8

detent: valid Words With Friends Word