Standard Lemma guide

detent

noun · verb · 3 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.

  • /dɪˈtɛnt/
  • /ˈdiːtɛnt/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɛnt

1

noun

Meaning 1

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.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

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

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

a hinged catch that fits into a notch of a ratchet to move a wheel forward or prevent it from moving backward

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: pawl, click, dog

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: catch, stop

History

Etymology

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

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: ограничи́тел (ograničítel) — which locks or unlocks a movement
  • German: Sperrklinke — which locks or unlocks a movement
  • German: Arretierung — which locks or unlocks a movement
  • Polish: zapadka — which locks or unlocks a movement
  • Spanish: retén — which locks or unlocks a movement
  • Spanish: detenedor — which locks or unlocks a movement