Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The act of attaching or the condition of being attached.
  • noun Something, such as a tie, band, or fastener, that attaches one thing to another.
  • noun A bond, as of affection or loyalty; fond regard.
  • noun A supplementary part; an accessory.
  • noun A supplementary document that is attached to a primary document.
  • noun Legal seizure of property.
  • noun The writ ordering such a seizure.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The act of attaching; specifically, in law, a taking of the person, goods, or estate by a writ or precept in a civil action, to secure a debt or demand, or to compel to appear in court, or to punish for contempt.
  • noun The writ or process directing the person or estate of a person to be taken, for the purposes above stated.
  • noun The act or state of being attached, fastened on, or connected.
  • noun Close adherence or affection; regard; any passion or affection that binds a person to another person or to a thing.
  • noun That which attaches one thing to another, or a person to an object: as, the attachments of a muscle; the attachments of home.
  • noun That which is attached to a principal object; an adjunct: as, the æolian attachment to the piano; an attachment to a sewing-machine.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The act attaching, or state of being attached; close adherence or affection; fidelity; regard; an� passion of affection that binds a person.
  • noun That by which one thing is attached to another; connection.
  • noun Something attached; some adjunct attached to an instrument, machine, or other object.
  • noun A seizure or taking into custody by virtue of a legal process.
  • noun The writ or percept commanding such seizure or taking.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A strong bonding towards or with.
  • noun A dependence, especially a strong one.
  • noun A device attached to a piece of equipment or a tool.
  • noun The process or means by which something is physically attached.
  • noun computing A file sent along with an email.
  • noun law Taking a person's property to satisfy a court-ordered debt.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a feeling of affection for a person or an institution
  • noun a connection that fastens things together
  • noun a writ authorizing the seizure of property that may be needed for the payment of a judgment in a judicial proceeding
  • noun the act of attaching or affixing something
  • noun faithful support for a cause or political party or religion
  • noun a supplementary part or accessory
  • noun the act of fastening things together

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

French attachement, attach +‎ -ment

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Examples

  • Only when we're already on his side, wanting things to work out, do we start to realize how unlikely this attachment is and how many obstacles there are.

    An Interview with Margot Livesey about Banishing Verona 2010

  • Healthy attachment occurs naturally for many of us, especially if you had loving caregivers as a child, but some kids do suffer from what we call attachment disorder, in which they find it difficult to bond with their parents.

    You Raising Your Child Michael F. Roizen 2010

  • Healthy attachment occurs naturally for many of us, especially if you had loving caregivers as a child, but some kids do suffer from what we call attachment disorder, in which they find it difficult to bond with their parents.

    You Raising Your Child Michael F. Roizen 2010

  • Healthy attachment occurs naturally for many of us, especially if you had loving caregivers as a child, but some kids do suffer from what we call attachment disorder, in which they find it difficult to bond with their parents.

    You Raising Your Child Michael F. Roizen 2010

  • Healthy attachment occurs naturally for many of us, especially if you had loving caregivers as a child, but some kids do suffer from what we call attachment disorder, in which they find it difficult to bond with their parents.

    You Raising Your Child Michael F. Roizen 2010

  • This may be a result of attachment related behaviors, and a specialist in attachment psychology would be helpful.

    Behavioral and Emotional Issues 2010

  • Some have provision for that pin attachment to the back.

    Tagging yourself? 2009

  • Some have provision for that pin attachment to the back.

    Tagging yourself? 2009

  • His only attachment is to his pickup truck, his seaplane and his team of loyal modern-day warriors.

    The Expendables: Two New Posters, First Trailer Premieres at ShoWest | /Film 2010

  • The baby who watches impassively as his mother leaves the room and barely acknowledges her return might well turn out to be the man who has difficulty creating intimacy with a lover, who has trouble forming a long-term attachment, and who avoids the kinds of closeness so important to long-lasting love.

    Red Flags or Red Herrings? Susan Engel 2011

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