De*tach" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detached (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Detaching.] [F. d'etacher (cf. It. distaccare, staccare); pref. d'e (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.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.