de·tach / diˈtach/ • v. [tr.] 1. disengage (something or part of something) and remove it: he detached the front lamp from its bracket | fig. federal strings need to be detached to restore parental authority. ∎  [intr.] be easily removable: the screen detaches from the keyboard. ∎  (detach oneself from) leave or separate oneself from (a group or place): a figure in brown detached itself from the shadows. ∎  (detach oneself from) avoid or put an end to any connection or association with: the newspaper detached itself from the political parties.2. (usu. be detached) Mil. send (a group of soldiers or ships) on a separate mission: our crew was detached to Puerto Rico for the exercise.DERIVATIVES: de·tach·a·bil·i·ty / -ˌtachəˈbilitē/ n.de·tach·a·ble adj.

detach XVII. — F. détacher, earlier †destacher, f. des- DIS- 1 + stem of attacher ATTACH.
So detachment XVII.