French word

détacher

Pronunciation

IPA/detaʃe/

Meaning

  • verbunfasten

Example

Il a détaché sa ceinture.

He unfastened his belt.

Illustration for détacher (unfasten)

More examples

Elle a détaché le bouton de sa chemise.

She unfastened the button on her shirt.

Core concept

A belt, knot, or connection comes free from what holds it in place.

Common phrases

  • détacher une ceinture

    unfasten a belt

  • détacher un bouton

    unfasten a button

  • détacher une tache

    remove a stain

Similar words

enlever: To remove something from a place or from the body.
défaire: To undo a knot or fastening and restore its original state.
déboutonner: To open something by undoing its buttons.
dézipper: To open something by undoing its zipper.

Definition in French

Séparer ou libérer ce qui était fixé ou relié, tant pour un objet concret que pour un lien figuré.

Word origin

Détacher combines the reversal prefix dé- with attacher, from Old French attachier, giving the sense of undoing an attachment.

Usage tips

  • The transitive verb détacher takes a direct object, as in détacher sa ceinture, while se détacher de marks something that separates or stands out.

Other meanings

  • detachverb
  • untieverb

Opposites

Related words

  • détachabledetachableadjective
  • détachementdetachmentnoun
  • détachédetachedadjective

Word lists with this word