What does "attachment" mean?

1. (email file) a computer file that you send along with an email message. 2. (emotional bond) a strong feeling of affection or loyalty to a person, place, or thing. 3. (mechanical tool) an extra part that you can join to a machine to help it do a special job. 4. (physical connection) the act of joining one thing to another, or the part that holds them together. 5. (legal seizure) the legal act of taking someone's property or money to pay back a debt.

How do you use "attachment"?

Commonly used with the verbs 'send', 'receive', 'open', or 'download'. Usually followed by the preposition 'to'.

attachment

US //əˈtætʃmənt// UK //ɐtˈætʃmənt// at·tach·ment

1 email file (n.)
A2 Elementary Computing

a computer file that you send along with an email message.

a digital file sent as an adjunct to an electronic mail message.

Example

I forgot to include the attachment in my last email, so I am sending it now.

Example

Please review the PDF attachment for the full project specifications before our meeting on Tuesday afternoon.

Usage

Commonly used with the verbs 'send', 'receive', 'open', or 'download'.
- file
- enclosure
2 emotional bond (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

a strong feeling of affection or loyalty to a person, place, or thing.

an emotional bond or a sense of deep affection and loyalty toward a person or object.

Example

The child has a very strong attachment to her favorite teddy bear.

Example

Psychologists often study the early attachment between infants and their primary caregivers to predict future social development.

Usage

Usually followed by the preposition 'to'.
- detachment
- indifference

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3 mechanical tool (n.)
B1 Intermediate

an extra part that you can join to a machine to help it do a special job.

an accessory or auxiliary device that can be connected to a primary machine to extend its functionality.

Example

This vacuum cleaner comes with a special attachment for cleaning pet hair off the sofa.

Example

The tractor was fitted with a plough attachment to prepare the fields for the spring planting season.
4 physical connection (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

the act of joining one thing to another, or the part that holds them together.

the act of fastening or joining one object to another, or the point of connection itself.

Example

The secure attachment of the mirror to the wall is very important for safety.

Example

Engineers inspected the bridge for any signs of wear at the points of attachment between the cables and the main towers.
- separation
- detachment
5 legal seizure (n.)
C1 Advanced Formal Technical Law

the legal act of taking someone's property or money to pay back a debt.

the legal process of seizing property or wages by court order to satisfy a debt or judgment.

Example

The court ordered an attachment of his earnings to pay for the unpaid taxes.

Example

The creditor sought a writ of attachment against the defendant's assets to ensure the funds remained available until the trial concluded.
- seizure
- garnishment
- confiscation

Origin

From French attachement. By surface analysis, attach + -ment.