attach

[ uh-tach ]

verb (used with object)

1. to fasten or affix; join; connect:

   to attach a photograph to an application with a staple.

   Synonyms: annex, add, append, subjoin

   Antonyms: detach

2. to join in action or function; make part of:

   to attach oneself to a group.

3. Military. to place on temporary duty with or in assistance to a military unit.
4. to include as a quality or condition of something:

   One proviso is attached to this legacy.

5. to assign or attribute:

   to attach significance to a gesture.

6. to bind by ties of affection or regard:

   You always attach yourself to people who end up hurting you.

7. Law. to take (persons or property) by legal authority.
8. Obsolete. to lay hold of; seize.

verb (used without object)

1. to adhere; pertain; belong (usually followed by to or upon ):

   No blame attaches to him.

attach

/ əˈtætʃ /

verb

1. to join, fasten, or connect
2. reflexive or passive to become associated with or join, as in a business or other venture

   he attached himself to the expedition

3. intrfoll byto to be inherent (in) or connected (with)

   responsibility attaches to the job

4. to attribute or ascribe

   to attach importance to an event

5. to include or append, esp as a condition

   a proviso is attached to the contract

6. usually passive military to place on temporary duty with another unit
7. usually passive to put (a member of an organization) to work in a different unit or agency, either with an expectation of reverting to, or while retaining some part of, the original working arrangement
8. to appoint officially
9. law to arrest or take (a person, property, etc) with lawful authority
10. obsolete.
    to seize

Derived Forms

• atˈtacher, noun
• atˈtachable, adjective

Other Words From

• at·tacha·ble adjective
• at·tacher noun
• reat·tach verb
• reat·tacha·ble adjective
• unat·tacha·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of attach¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English atachen, from Anglo-French atacher “to seize,” Old French atachier “to fasten,” alteration of estachier “to fasten with or to a stake,” from estach(e), from Frankish stakka “stake”; stake ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of attach¹

C14: from Old French atachier to fasten, changed from estachier to fasten with a stake, from estache stake ¹

Idioms and Phrases

see no strings attached .

Example Sentences

The Luna has eight built-in tie loops to attach a duvet cover so you can further customize the overall look.

From Popular-Science

For now, you can only get invited to Clubhouse through your phone number, which is attached to your account and can’t be removed.

From Vox

Like this month for us was probably going to be our busiest month with the most games and travel … so if you just attach this to the end of the year, so to speak, then it’s not the best thing in the world to have going into the playoffs either.

From Washington Post

It attaches to its intended phones easily, and it can recharge through certain MagSafe-compatible cases.

From Ars Technica

Camera to Cloud works on existing devices like the Teradek CUBE 655, Sound Devices 888 and Scorpio recorders, which can be attached to compatible cameras from Arri, RED and Sony.

From TechCrunch

We have a specific idea to attach to THE INTERVIEW that will crush.

From The Daily Beast

The House and Senate write up the fix the White House wants, but they attach it to something Obama hates.

From The Daily Beast

In DBS, a neurosurgeon implants electrodes in the brain that attach to a “pacemaker” for the brain.

From The Daily Beast

Using skewers/tooth picks, attach monkey bread, Cinnabons, and churros to battleship.

From The Daily Beast

Good luck and pray that Karma doesn't attach a Freddy Krueger like scarletletter to your entire body.

From The Daily Beast

The Texians laughed at the fanfarronades of the dons, and did not attach sufficient importance to these formidable preparations.

From Project Gutenberg

Still, I didn't attach any significance to the matter until later, when we visited the kennels.

From Project Gutenberg

What a capital thing it would be surely, if the police could attach some of these spirits to their force!

From Project Gutenberg

To these men of heart and of talent Lucien de Rubempre, the poet, sought to attach himself.

From Project Gutenberg

Those who attach a high value to original and comprehensive thought will scarcely consider him entitled to such an epithet.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• add
• adhere
• affix
• connect
• fix
• hook up
• link
• secure
• stick
• tie