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

In between, she violates her professional dictum of avoiding emotional attachment by falling for Alfredo, who offers true love.

From The Wall Street Journal

The styling and drying process was extremely complicated—Mari wrapped individual strands of hair around the handle of a comb and then used a hairdryer with a diffuser attachment on each individual curl.

From Literature

The Crown Prosecution Service said "making" an image included opening an email attachment or downloading a website image.

From BBC

UC Santa Cruz’s “Visualizing Abolition” project, designed to “shift the social attachment to prisons through art and education,” has received almost $8 million from Mellon.

From The Wall Street Journal

Companies like Apple and Amazon leverage emotional attachment or essential services to maintain consumer loyalty against AI threats.

From Barron's

Related Words

• affinity
• devotion
• friendship
• loyalty