Definition

1. Noun:
   • A feeling of affection or emotional bond: A strong feeling of liking, fondness, or loyalty towards a person, place, or institution.
   • The act of fastening or connecting: The process of joining one thing to another.
   • A supplementary part or accessory: An extra device or component that can be added to a main object to extend its function.
   • A legal seizure of property: A court order authorizing the taking of property, often to secure payment of a debt or judgment.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Feeling):
  • She felt a deep attachment to her childhood home.
  • His attachment to the company made him refuse other job offers.
• Noun (Act of Fastening):
  • The attachment of the trailer to the car requires a secure hitch.
  • Please check the attachment of the cable before turning on the machine.
• Noun (Accessory):
  • This vacuum cleaner comes with several useful attachments.
  • I bought a new lens attachment for my camera.
• Noun (Legal):
  • The court issued an attachment on his bank account.

Advanced Usage

• "To have an attachment to": To feel a strong emotional connection or loyalty towards something.
  • He has a strong attachment to traditional values.
• "Writ of attachment": The formal legal document authorizing the seizure of property.
  • The creditor obtained a writ of attachment against the debtor's assets.

Variants and Related Words

• Attach (verb): To fasten, join, or connect.
  • Attach the file to your email.
• Attached (adjective): Joined, fastened, or connected; feeling affection.
  • Please see the attached document. / She is very attached to her dog.
• Detachment (noun): The opposite state; the act of separating or a lack of emotional involvement.
  • He viewed the situation with cool detachment.

Synonyms

• Affection: A gentle feeling of fondness or liking.
• Bond: A connection or feeling that unites people.
• Accessory: A thing that can be added to something else to make it more useful.
• Seizure: The action of taking property by legal authority.

Related Phrases

• Attachment disorder: A psychological condition where an individual has difficulty forming emotional attachments.
  • The child's early trauma led to an attachment disorder.
• Attachment parenting: A parenting philosophy emphasizing close physical and emotional bonds.
  • They practice attachment parenting, including baby-wearing and co-sleeping.

Idioms

• "To form an attachment": To develop a bond or emotional connection.
  • It's natural for a child to form an attachment to a primary caregiver.

Noun

1. the act of fastening things together
2. the act of attaching or affixing something
3. faithful support for a cause or political party or religion
   • attachment to a formal agenda
   • adherence to a fat-free diet
   • the adhesion of Seville was decisive
4. a connection that fastens things together
5. a writ authorizing the seizure of property that may be needed for the payment of a judgment in a judicial proceeding
6. a supplementary part or accessory
7. a feeling of affection for a person or an institution