The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
detent — [dē′tent΄; ] also [ di tent′] n. [Fr détente < détendre, to relax, unbend < dé (L dis ), from + tendre, to stretch: see TEND2] Mech. a part that stops or releases a movement, as a catch for controlling the striking of a clock … English World dictionary
Detent — Not to be confused with Détente. Detent is the term for a method, as well as the actual device, used to mechanically resist or arrest the rotation of a wheel, axle or spindle. A detent can be used to intentionally divide a rotation into discrete… … Wikipedia
detent — 1. noun That which locks or unlocks a movement; a catch, pawl, or dog; especially, in clockwork, the catch which locks and unlocks the wheelwork in striking. A UHF tuner having 70 detent positions with fine tuning capability at all locations.… … Wiktionary
detent — noun Etymology: French détente, from Middle French destente, from destendre to slacken, from Old French, from des de + tendre to stretch, from Latin tendere more at thin Date: 1688 a device (as a catch, dog, or spring operated ball) for… … New Collegiate Dictionary
detent — /di tent /, n. Mach. a mechanism that temporarily keeps one part in a certain position relative to that of another, and can be released by applying force to one of the parts. [1680 90; < F détente, OF destente, deriv. of destendre to relax, equiv … Universalium
detent — (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) n. catch, pawl. See hindrance … English dictionary for students
detent — de·tent || dɪ tent n. device that holds one object in a certain position relative to another object … English contemporary dictionary
detent — 1) netted 2) tented … Anagrams dictionary
detent — [dɪ tɛnt] noun a catch in a machine which prevents motion until released. ↘(in a clock) a catch that regulates striking. Origin C17: from Fr. détente, from OFr. destente, from destendre slacken … English new terms dictionary
detent — n. Pawl, click, catch, ratchet … New dictionary of synonyms
