attachment

[ uh-tach-muhnt ]

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. attachment disorder, attachment theory.
   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.

attachment

/ 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

Other Words From

• nonat·tachment noun
• over·at·tachment noun
• preat·tachment noun
• reat·tachment noun
• self-at·tachment noun
• super·at·tachment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of attachment¹

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

Synonym Study

See addition.

Example Sentences

The malware could be delivered via a thumb drive or in an email attachment.

From Fortune

Made of aluminized steel and carrying a weight capacity of 22 pounds, it features an integrated cable management system, heavy duty C clamp, and an optional grommet attachment for installing the arm directly into a desk surface.

From Popular-Science

To avoid having to hold anything while riding, you can get a bike seat attachment that connects to your dog’s leash.

From Popular-Science

Finally, attachment ensures partners stay together long enough to raise their own children—to provide the support needed to set the next generation on its way.

From Nautilus

Even better, it’s possible to engineer attachment anchors onto these basic shapes, which makes it easy to play with different viral structures and see how those structural changes, in turn, alter our B cell response.

From Singularity Hub 

The problem with this attachment to a particular place, though, is that it can seem limiting.

From The Daily Beast

Ivgy herself formed a special attachment to Zohar and says she “had a really hard time” once shooting wrapped.

From The Daily Beast

Close attachment to autocratic regimes by the West pays short-term dividends but will antagonize generations of Muslims.

From The Daily Beast

He retained a deep attachment to his mother, Judie McCain, and posted a photo of her on Facebook.

From The Daily Beast

The locals worship their ancestors, and their attachment to family land is almost visceral.

From The Daily Beast

Her attachment to impressionism leads this artist to many experiments in color—or, as one critic wrote, "to play with color."

From Project Gutenberg

Hence their presence elsewhere, in spite of their passionate attachment to their free native hills.

From Project Gutenberg

I believe there has been an attachment for some years, the gentleman's attentions are very marked.

From Project Gutenberg

The second word should indicate by its consonants the numbers of the bones to which the attachment is made.

From Project Gutenberg

Her husband noticed, and thought it was the expression of a deep filial attachment which he had never suspected.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• affinity
• devotion
• friendship
• loyalty