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Attachment vs Detachment - What's the difference?

attachment | detachment |

As nouns the difference between attachment and detachment

is that attachment is the act or process of (physically or figuratively) attaching while detachment is the action of detaching; separation.

attachment

English

Noun

  • The act or process of (physically or figuratively) attaching.
  • * 2005 , Rebecca N. Baergen, Manual of Benirschke and Kaufmann's Pathology of the Human Placenta , page 71:
    • The “implantation window” is a short, specific phase during which attachment of the blastocyst occurs.
  • A strong bonding towards or with.
    • I have such an attachment towards my fiancé!
  • A dependence, especially a strong one.
  • * 2003 , Griffith Edwards, Alcohol: The World's Favorite Drug , page 63:
    • Through every other kind of drug experience, however, ran his attachment to alcohol.
  • A device attached to a piece of equipment or a tool.
  • * 1978 , Walter H. Wager, Time of reckoning , page 194:
    • Zimchenko's phone had a tape attachment ,
  • The means by which something is physically attached.
  • * 2012 , Sinikka Elliott, Not My Kid: What Parents Believe about the Sex Lives of Their Teenagers , page 46:
    • [The umbilical cord is] the attachment connecting the fetus with the placenta.
  • (computing) A file sent along with an email.
  • (legal) Taking a person's property to satisfy a court-ordered debt.
    • attachment of earnings
  • (meteorology) The act or process by which any (downward) leader connects to any available (upward) streamer in a lightning flash.
  • * 2009 , Jakke Mäkelä, Eero Karvinen, Niko Porjo, Antti Mäkelä and Tapio Tuomi, Attachment of Natural Lightning Flashes to Trees: Preliminary Statistical Characteristics'', published in the ''Journal of Lightning Research , volume 1

    • Derived terms

    * attachment disorder ----

    detachment

    English

    Noun

    (wikipedia detachment)
  • (uncountable) The action of detaching; separation.
  • (uncountable) The state of being detached or disconnected; insulation.
  • (uncountable) Indifference to the concerns of others; aloofness.
  • (uncountable) Absence of bias; impartiality; objectivity.
  • (uncountable, military) The separation of a military unit from the main body for particular purpose or a special mission.
  • (countable, military) The unit so dispatched.
  • (countable, military) A permanent unit organized for special duties.
  • (countable) Any smaller portion of a main body separately employed.