De*tach" (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Detached (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Detaching.] [F. détacher (cf. It.
distaccare, staccare); pref. dé (L.
dis) + the root found also in E. attach. See
Attach, and cf. Staccato.] 1. To
part; to separate or disunite; to disengage; -- the opposite of
attach; as, to detach the coats of a bulbous root from
each other; to detach a man from a leader or from a
party.
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.
Syn. -- To separate; disunite; disengage; sever; disjoin;
withdraw; draw off. See Detail.
De*tach", v. i. To push asunder;
to come off or separate from anything; to disengage.
[A vapor] detaching, fold by fold,
From those still heights.
Tennyson.
