[dɪˈtɛnt], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a catch in a machine which prevents motion until released
(e.g: a system of detents is used to ensure that gears are held in whatever position is selected)


Phrases:

Origin:
late 17th century (denoting a catch in a clock): from French détente, from Old French destente, from destendre ‘slacken’, from des- (expressing reversal) + Latin tendere ‘to stretch’