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 You can detach the strap and carry the bag by the handle if you prefer.
- 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.
Definitions on the go
Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.
- [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’.
Check pronunciation:
detach