De-tăch', v. t.
v. t. [imp. & p. p. DETACHED (de-tăch'); p. pr. & vb. n. DETACHING.] [Fr. détacher, Pr. destacar, Sp. & Pg. destacar, desatacar, It. distaccare, staccare, from dé, des, dis, equivalent to Lat. dis, and the root of Eng. tack, to fasten, from Celt. tac, tack, a nail. Cf. ATTACH.]
Sense 1. To part; to separate or disunite; to disengage; as, to detach the coats of a bulbous root from each other; to detach a man from the interest of the minister, or from a party.
Sense 2. To separate for a special object or use; — used especially in military language; as, to detach a ship from a fleet, or a company from a regiment.
Synonyms— To separate; disunite; disengage; sever; disjoin; withdraw; draw off. See DETAIL.