detent


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de·tent

 (dĭ-tĕnt′)
n.
A catch or lever that locks the movement of one part of a mechanism.

[French détente, a loosening, from Old French destente, from feminine past participle of destendre, to release : des-, de- + tendre, to stretch (from Latin tendere; see ten- in Indo-European roots).]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

detent

(dɪˈtɛnt)
n
(Mechanical Engineering) the locking piece of a mechanism, often spring-loaded to check the movement of a wheel in one direction only. See also pawl
[C17: from Old French destente, a loosening, trigger: see détente]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

de•tent

(dɪˈtɛnt)

n.
a mechanism that temporarily keeps one part in a certain position relative to another, and can be released by applying force to one of the parts.
[1680–90; < French détente, Old French destente, derivative of destendre to relax =des- dis-1 + tendre to stretch; see tender2]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.detent - a hinged catch that fits into a notch of a ratchet to move a wheel forward or prevent it from moving backwarddetent - a hinged catch that fits into a notch of a ratchet to move a wheel forward or prevent it from moving backward
catch, stop - a restraint that checks the motion of something; "he used a book as a stop to hold the door open"
rachet, ratch, ratchet - mechanical device consisting of a toothed wheel or rack engaged with a pawl that permits it to move in only one direction
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
References in periodicals archive ?
Once separated, return the magazine lever to the closed position within the magazine plug by depressing the magazine detent and inserting it back into the plug.
The thread and detent system is extremely simple, but will it hold up to hard use?
Recommend that the cotter pin be installed pointing toward the left side of the prop control arm to avoid contact with feathering detent spring.
* Insert the detent inside the ejection port cover.
But this little gun, and all its S&W brethren, has a detent at the end of its trigger stroke allowing it to be shot with as much precision as a single-action revolver.
At no-load condition, the only force derived from PMTLG is detent force [14,15].
"Autogard and MiHow2: Demonstration and Benefits of Using a Ball Detent Torque Limiter" was filmed with the assistance of Rexnord Industries' Autogard division, a designer and manufacturer of mechanical overload protection devices (torque limiters) and flexible couplings for use in industrial power transmissions.
The report said that the company has created a demonstration using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of a brain to show how a medic could navigate through the different slices by pushing their finger against the display allowing them to draw notes and leave a 'haptic detent', or force-feedback marker - at certain layers to make it easier to find them again later on.