disengage

5 definitions • 5 examples

to become physically separated from something, or to make two things become physically separated:

be disengaged from The door was disengaged from one of its hinges.

to switch off the control of something:

The autopilot had been disengaged.

If you disengage the clutch of a car, you stop the power produced by the engine being connected to the wheels.

to stop being involved in something, or to stop someone being involved in something:

disengage from They recognized that the country would revive only if it thoroughly disengaged from the chaos of the old regime.

disengage yourself from something Both children, disengaging themselves from their game, came to her side.

to become separate or not connected, or to cause this to happen:

[ I ] The US should not disengage from Europe, she said.