detent Hear it!

detent definition

de·tent (dē′tent′; also di tent′)

noun

Mech. a part that stops or releases a movement, as a catch for controlling the striking of a clock

Etymology: Fr détente < détendre, to relax, unbend < dé- (L dis-), from + tendre, to stretch: see tend

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.