Standard Lemma guide

detach

verb · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation, US: /dɪˈtæt͡ʃ/
  • Australian: /dəˈtæt͡ʃ/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ætʃ
  • CMU ARPABET: D IH1 T AE2 CH Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: D IY0 T AE1 CH Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To take apart from; to take off.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • to detach the tag from a newly purchased garment

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To separate for a special object or use.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: government, military, politics, war

Examples

  • to detach a ship from a fleet, or a company from a regiment

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To come off something.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • Now that the zipper has detached, my winter coat won't keep me very warm.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

cause to become detached or separated; take off

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • detach the skin from the chicken before you eat it

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: attach

Broader terms: disconnect

Narrower terms: break, break off, snap off, unbind, unhook

5

verb

Meaning 5

come to be detached

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • His retina detached and he had to be rushed into surgery

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: come off, come away

Antonyms: attach

Broader terms: separate, divide, part

Narrower terms: blow off, cut off, chop off, lop off, unsolder, fall off

6

verb

Meaning 6

separate (a small unit) from a larger, especially for a special assignment

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • detach a regiment

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: separate, divide

History

Etymology

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

Across languages

Translations

40 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: отделям (otdeljam) — to take apart or take off
  • Bulgarian: откачам (otkačam) — to take apart or take off
  • Bulgarian: отцепвам (otcepvam) — to take apart or take off
  • Czech: odpojit — to take apart or take off
  • Estonian: eraldama — to take apart or take off
  • French: détacher — to take apart or take off
  • Old French: deslier — to take apart or take off
  • Old French: descupler — to take apart or take off
  • German: entfernen — to take apart or take off
  • German: ablösen — to take apart or take off
  • German: lösen — to take apart or take off
  • German: loslösen — to take apart or take off
  • German: abtrennen — to take apart or take off
  • German: herausnehmen — to take apart or take off
  • German: losmachen — to take apart or take off
  • Hungarian: elválaszt — to take apart or take off
  • Hungarian: leválaszt — to take apart or take off
  • Hungarian: szétválaszt — to take apart or take off
  • Ido: des-ligar — to take apart or take off
  • Ido: detachar — to take apart or take off
  • Ingrian: päästää — to take apart or take off
  • Latin: abiungō — to take apart or take off
  • Māori: whakakaewa — to take apart or take off
  • Māori: wete — to take apart or take off
  • Māori: wehe — to take apart or take off
  • Māori: wehewehe — to take apart or take off
  • Khiamniungan Naga: thám — to take apart or take off
  • Old English: ālīesan — to take apart or take off
  • Portuguese: destacar — to take apart or take off
  • Romanian: a detașa — to take apart or take off
  • Romanian: dezlipi — to take apart or take off
  • Russian: отделя́ть (otdeljátʹ) — to take apart or take off
  • Russian: отдели́ть (otdelítʹ) — to take apart or take off
  • Russian: отцепля́ть (otcepljátʹ) — to take apart or take off
  • Russian: отцепи́ть (otcepítʹ) — to take apart or take off
  • Serbo-Croatian: odspojiti — to take apart or take off
  • Spanish: desacoplar — to take apart or take off
  • Spanish: desprender — to take apart or take off
  • Spanish: desfijar — to take apart or take off
  • Spanish: despegar — to take apart or take off