disengage
v. B2 Upper Intermediate US //dɪsɪnˈɡeɪdʒ// UK //dˌɪsɛnɡˈeɪdʒ// dis·en·gage
v. to move away from something or to stop being involved in a situation. You use this when you want to describe taking your foot off the gas or ending a connection.
v. to move away from a position of contact or to cease being involved in an activity. Often describes the physical act of removing a mechanical connection or the metaphorical act of withdrawing from a social or emotional state.
He disengaged the clutch to stop the car.
The pilot had to disengage the autopilot system to manually navigate through the thick cloud bank.
After years of intense political pressure, the ambassador finally disengaged from the negotiations, citing a lack of progress and a need to protect national interests.
From Middle French désengager ; dis- + engage.
- Verbdisengage
- Verbengage
- Noundisengagement
- Nounengagement