attach

/əˈtætʃ/

/əˈtætʃ/

Other forms: attached; attaching

Use the verb attach when you need to join things together, like a stamp that you attach to a letter.

When you attach something, you join it or tie it to something else. The word can be used to show physically joining things, like a printer that you attach to your computer, or to show a strong personal connection. For example, you can attach yourself to a political cause or to a group of friends.

Definitions of attach

1. verb

   be attached; be in contact with
   types:

   leech onto

   admire boundlessly and follow around

   type of:

   adjoin, contact, meet, touch

   be in direct physical contact with; make contact
2. verb

   cause to be attached
   antonyms:

   detach

   cause to become detached or separated; take off

   types:

   fix, fixate

   make fixed, stable or stationary

   tether

   tie with a tether

   fasten

   attach to

   hinge

   attach with a hinge

   bell

   attach a bell to

   band, ring

   attach a ring to the foot of, in order to identify

   couple, couple on, couple up

   link together

   affix

   attach or become attached to a stem word

   bind

   make fast; tie or secure, with or as if with a rope

   catch, hitch

   to hook or entangle

   append, hang on, tack, tack on, tag on

   fix to; attach

   add on, affix, append, supplement

   add to the very end

   tape

   fasten or attach with tape

   glue, paste

   join or attach with or as if with glue

   pin down, pin up

   attach with or as if with a pin

   peg, peg down

   fasten or secure with a wooden pin

   fasten, fix, secure

   cause to be firmly attached

   mount

   attach to a support

   affix, stick on

   attach to

   nail

   attach something somewhere by means of nails

   hook up

   connect or link

   clip

   attach with a clip

   enter, infix, insert, introduce

   put or introduce into something

   yoke

   put a yoke on or join with a yoke

   harness, tackle

   put a harness

   link, yoke

   link with or as with a yoke

   saddle

   put a saddle on

   label, mark, tag

   attach a tag or label to

   limber, limber up

   attach the limber

   strap

   secure (a sprained joint) with a strap

   stamp

   affix a stamp to

   bind, tie

   fasten or secure with a rope, string, or cord

   rig

   connect or secure to

   bitt

   secure with a bitt

   latch

   fasten with a latch

   garter

   fasten with or as if with a garter

   chain

   fasten or secure with chains

   cable

   fasten with a cable

   picket

   fasten with a picket

   rope up

   attach to one another, for safety

   prefix

   attach a prefix to

   suffix

   attach a suffix to

   infix

   attach a morpheme into a stem word

   swaddle, swathe

   wrap in swaddling clothes

   encircle, gird

   bind with something round or circular

   cinch, girth

   tie a cinch around

   bandage, bind

   wrap around with something so as to cover or enclose

   cement

   make fast as if with cement

   cramp

   secure with a cramp

   cleat

   secure on a cleat

   anchor, cast anchor, drop anchor

   secure a vessel with an anchor

   anchor, ground

   fix firmly and stably

   moor

   secure with cables or ropes

   berth, moor, tie up

   secure in or as if in a berth or dock

   spike

   secure with spikes

   snag

   catch on a snag

   subjoin

   add to the end

   annex

   attach to

   run up, sew, sew together, stitch

   fasten by sewing; do needlework

   scotch tape, sellotape

   fasten or attach with sellotape

   epoxy

   glue with epoxy

   crank

   fasten with a crank

   noose

   secure with a noose

   chock

   secure with chocks

   brad

   fasten with brads

   bight

   fasten with a bight

   belay

   fasten a boat to a bitt, pin, or cleat

   belay

   turn a rope round an object or person in order to secure it or him

   bar

   secure with, or as if with, bars

   remount

   mount again, as after disassembling something

   clamp

   fasten or fix with a clamp

   velcro

   fasten with Velcro

   stay

   fasten with stays

   clinch

   flatten the ends (of nails and rivets)

   clinch

   secure or fasten by flattening the ends of nails or bolts

   lock

   fasten with a lock

   lock up

   secure by locking

   hasp

   secure or lock with a hasp

   zip, zip up, zipper

   close with a zipper

   seal

   affix a seal to

   tack

   fasten with tacks

   string

   string together; tie or fasten with a string

   hook

   fasten with a hook

   belt

   fasten with a belt

   cement

   bind or join with or as if with cement

   grout

   bind with grout

   staple

   secure or fasten with a staple or staples

   rivet

   fasten with a rivet or rivets

   button

   fasten with buttons

   pin

   attach or fasten with pins or as if with pins

   connect, plug in, plug into

   plug into an outlet

   cannulate, cannulise, cannulize, canulate, intubate

   introduce a cannula or tube into

   input

   enter (data or a program) into a computer

   instil, instill

   enter drop by drop

   hang, hang up

   cause to be hanging or suspended

   hang

   place in position as by a hinge so as to allow free movement in one direction

   inspan

   attach a yoke or harness to

   deposit, lodge, stick, wedge

   put, fix, force, or implant

   embed, engraft, imbed, implant, plant

   fix or set securely or deeply

   sandwich

   insert or squeeze tightly between two people or objects

   graft, transplant

   place the organ of a donor into the body of a recipient

   entrench, intrench

   fix firmly or securely

   buckle, clasp

   fasten with a buckle or buckles

   brooch, clasp

   fasten with or as if with a brooch

   brand, brandmark, trademark

   mark with a brand or trademark

   point

   mark (a psalm text) to indicate the points at which the music changes

   point

   mark with diacritics

   point

   mark (Hebrew words) with diacritics

   calibrate

   mark (the scale of a measuring instrument) so that it can be read in the desired units

   code

   attach a code to

   badge

   put a badge on

   post

   affix in a public place or for public notice

   stake

   tie or fasten to a stake

   wire

   fasten with wire

   coapt

   fit tightly and fasten

   joggle

   fasten or join with a joggle

   joint

   fasten with a joint

   toggle

   fasten with, or as if with, a toggle

   plaster

   affix conspicuously

   type of:

   connect, link, link up, tie

   connect, fasten, or put together two or more pieces
3. verb

   become attached
   “The spider's thread attached to the window sill”

   antonyms:

   detach

   come to be detached

   types:

   agglutinate

   string together (morphemes in an agglutinating language)

   implant

   become attached to and embedded in the uterus

   fasten

   become fixed or fastened

   adhere, bind, bond, hold fast, stick, stick to

   stick to firmly

   spat

   become permanently attached

   glue

   be fixed as if by glue

   bind

   form a chemical bond with

   stick

   fasten into place by fixing an end or point into something

   stick

   fasten with or as with pins or nails

   stick

   fasten with an adhesive material like glue

   type of:

   conjoin, join

   make contact or come together
4. verb

   create social or emotional ties
   synonyms: bind, bond, tie

   types:

   fixate

   attach (oneself) to a person or thing in a neurotic way

   befriend

   become friends with

   chum up, pal, pal up

   become friends; act friendly towards

   type of:

   relate

   have or establish a relationship to
5. verb

   take temporary possession of as a security, by legal authority
   synonyms: confiscate, impound, seize, sequester

   sequester

   requisition forcibly, as of enemy property

   types:

   condemn

   appropriate (property) for public use

   garnish, garnishee

   take a debtor's wages on legal orders, such as for child support

   distrain

   confiscate by distress

   type of:

   take

   take into one's possession