DETACHING

Verb

detaching

present participle of detach

Source: Wiktionary

DETACH

De*tach", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detached; p. pr. & vb. n. Detaching.] Etym: [F. détacher (cf. It. distaccare, staccare); pref. dé (L. dis) + the root found also in E. attach. See Attach, and cf. Staccato.]

1. To part; to separate or disunite; to disengage; -- the opposite of attach; as, to detach the coats of a bulbous root from each other; to detach a man from a leader or from a party.

2. To separate for a special object or use; -- used especially in military language; as, to detach a ship from a fleet, or a company from a regiment.

Syn.

– To separate; disunite; disengage; sever; disjoin; withdraw;; draw off. See Detail.

De*tach", v. i.

Definition: To push asunder; to come off or separate from anything; to disengage. [A vapor] detaching, fold by fold, From those still heights. Tennyson.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition