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Definition of "detent" [de•tent]

  • A catch or lever that locks the movement of one part of a mechanism. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "detent" in a sentence
  • "Alps Electric Europe is offering a tiny momentary-type push switch with detent, which is ideal for mirror control for power window units and for the switching of electric devices in a motor vehicle."
  • "The detent is a component that controls the movement of the shift lever and this area was the subject of a great deal of attention to achieve a positive click with each gear change."
  • "If the so-called detent The lunacy of all this derangement has been a curious sideshow until this year when it became clear that it is all a part of an intended set-up."