Detach, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detached; p. pr. & vb. n. Detaching.]
Etymology: [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.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Detach, v. i.
To push asunder; to come off or separate from anything; to disengage. [A vapor] detaching, fold by fold, From those still heights. Tennyson.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for detach; he lists it under abstract.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.