attach

verb at·tach \ ə-ˈtach \

Updated on: 15 Apr 2018

Definition of attach

transitive verb

1 : to take by legal authority especially under a writ

attached the property

2 a : to bring (oneself) into an association

attached herself to their cause

b : to assign (an individual or unit in the military) temporarily

3 : to bind by personal ties (as of affection or sympathy)

was strongly attached to his family

4 : to make fast (as by tying or gluing)

attach a label to a package

5 : to associate especially as a property or an attribute : ascribe

attached great importance to public opinion polls

6 : to include and send (a separate document or file) with an electronic message (such as an e-mail or text message)

Unlike … some other social networking hubs, Beejive allows you to attach photos or videos to a message, or download files from messages, just as you would via e-mail.
—Bob Tedeschi

intransitive verb

: to become attached : adhere

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attachable

play \ə-ˈta-chə-bəl\ adjective

See attach defined for English-language learners

See attach defined for kids

Examples of attach in a Sentence

I've attached an application to the brochure for you.
She attached a note to the package.
I attached the file to the e-mail.
The handle attaches here on the top.

Recent Examples of attach from the Web

Garment Guards attach to the underarms of your dress and absorb moisture ($12 at nordstrom.com).

— lauren levy, The Cut, "The Everything Guide to Staying Cool at a Summer Wedding," 12 Apr. 2018
Then attach a name to each of the tasks and ask for their help.

— michele parente, sandiegouniontribune.com, "How to ask for caregiving help," 11 Apr. 2018
Worn like a bib and sized like an apron, the bottom half attaches to your bathroom mirror using suction cups.

— kelly o'sullivan, Country Living, "Every Man With Facial Hair Needs a 'Beard Bib'," 7 Apr. 2018
By deploying small drones with infrared cameras attached, scientists are developing tools for wildlife officials to watch these wild animals without disturbing them.

— sarah gibbens, National Geographic, "How Do You Protect Endangered Animals at Night? Ask an Astrophysicist.," 6 Apr. 2018
They are essentially only attached to the outer layer(s) of wood rather than the whole tree.

— paul cappiello, The Courier-Journal, "To cut trees or not cut the trees. That is the burning question in Louisville's Butchertown," 6 Apr. 2018
This year however, the most apropos looks aren’t ones with designer labels attached, but rather those spotted on the models, influencers, celebrities, and editors outside the Spring 2018 shows.

— alice bell, Vogue, "These Are the Spring 2018 Street Style Trends to Take With You to Coachella," 6 Apr. 2018
The weather, attached to a strong cold front pushing from Texas to the Gulf Coast, was expected to continue early Saturday in the Southeast.

— rick jervis, USA TODAY, "Storms and tornadoes sweep through South ahead of cold front, causing damage and outages," 6 Apr. 2018
Clearly, this is one of those with a good cause attached to it, and that’s wonderful.

— michelle r. martinelli, For The Win, "The 10 painfully awkward NASCAR race names of 2018," 6 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'attach.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of attach

Middle English, from Anglo-French attacher, alteration of Old French estachier, from estache stake, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English staca stake

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

attach Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of attach

fasten, fix, attach, affix mean to make something stay firmly in place. fasten implies an action such as tying, buttoning, nailing, locking, or otherwise securing.

- fasten the reins to a post

fix usually implies a driving in, implanting, or embedding.

- fixed the stake in the ground

attach suggests a connecting or uniting by a bond, link, or tie in order to keep things together.

- attach the W-2 form here

affix implies an imposing of one thing on another by gluing, impressing, or nailing.

- affix your address label here

ATTACH Defined for English Language Learners

attach

verb

Definition of attach for English Language Learners

: to fasten or join one thing to another
: to be or become joined or connected
: to associate or connect one thing with another

ATTACH Defined for Kids

attach

verb at·tach \ ə-ˈtach \

Definition of attach for Students

attached; attaching

1 : to fasten or join one thing to another

The boy attached a bell to his bicycle.

2 : to bind by feelings of affection

… Marty's got awful attached to that dog …
—Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Shiloh

3 : to think of as belonging to something

Attach no importance to his remark.

Law Dictionary

attach

verb at·tach

legal Definition of attach

transitive verb

1 : to obtain a court order against (property of another person) that directs an officer of the court (as a sheriff) to seize or take control of the property — compare garnish, levy

Note: A plaintiff may attach a defendant's property as a way of obtaining jurisdiction for the purpose of bringing a lawsuit or to prevent the defendant from getting rid of property that may be needed to pay a judgment to the plaintiff.

2 : to join or make a part of

affidavits attached to the suit
—Rosalind Resnick

3 : to create a security interest in (property) and so acquire the right to foreclose on or otherwise deal with property for payment of a debt and to exercise one's rights in the property against third parties — see also security interest at interest 1 — compare perfect

intransitive verb

: to become effective: as

a : to come into existence as a security interest

from the date the interest attaches

b : to become operative especially as a right

the right to counsel attaches only at or after the initiation of adversary judicial proceedings
—United States v. Gouveia, 467 U.S. 180 (1984)

— see also jeopardy

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attachable

adjective

—

attachment

noun

Origin and Etymology of attach

Anglo-French attacher to lodge (an action in court), seize (a person or property) by legal authority, from Old French atachier to fasten, fix, alteration of estachier, from estache stake