attachment

American  

[uh-tach-muhnt] / əˈtætʃ mənt /

noun

1. an act of attaching or the state of being attached.

2. a feeling that binds one to a person, thing, cause, ideal, or the like; devotion; regard.

   a fond attachment to his cousin; a profound attachment to the cause of peace.

   Synonyms:

   devotedness , love

3. Psychology.

   1. an emotional bond between an infant or toddler and primary caregiver, a strong bond being vital for the child’s normal behavioral and social development.

   2. an enduring emotional bond that develops between one adult and another in an intimate relationship.

      romantic attachment.

4. something that attaches; a fastening or tie.

   the attachments of a harness; the attachments of a pair of skis.

   Synonyms:

   connection , junction

5. an additional or supplementary device.

   attachments for an electric drill.

6. Law.  seizure of property or person by legal authority, especially seizure of a defendant's property to prevent its dissipation before trial or to acquire jurisdiction over it.

7. something attached, as a document added to a letter.

8. Digital Technology.  a computer or electronic file sent with an email.

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attachment British  

/ əˈtætʃmənt /

noun

1. a means of securing; a fastening

2. (often foll by to) affection or regard (for); devotion (to)

   attachment to a person or to a cause

3. an object to be attached, esp a supplementary part

   an attachment for an electric drill

4. the act of attaching or the state of being attached

5. 1. the arrest of a person for disobedience to a court order

   2. the lawful seizure of property and placing of it under control of a court

   3. a writ authorizing such arrest or seizure

6. law the binding of a debt in the hands of a garnishee until its disposition has been decided by the court

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Related Words

See addition.

Other Word Forms

• nonattachment noun
• overattachment noun
• preattachment noun
• reattachment noun
• self-attachment noun
• superattachment noun

Etymology

Origin of attachment

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English attachement “detention, distraint, seizure,” from Anglo-French; attach, -ment

Example Sentences

Only having given up ego and all attachments has he obtained the heart of compassion.

From Los Angeles Times

As this attachment deteriorated, the ice upstream began to flow more quickly, reducing the shelf's mechanical stability.

From Science Daily

Police searched them and found "magnetised probes" and a mirror attachment for a phone allegedly used to rig games.

From BBC

Or maybe you are looking for the excitement of a big city where English is widely spoken, have no family attachments and enjoy seasonal weather.

From MarketWatch

An adduct is a bulky chemical attachment that forms when a compound, such as a carcinogen, binds directly to DNA.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• affinity
• devotion
• friendship
• loyalty