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Detent

//dɪˈtɛnt// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    That which locks or unlocks a movement; a catch (stopping mechanism), pawl, or dog; especially, in clockwork, the catch which locks and unlocks the wheelwork in striking.

    "A UHF tuner having 70 detent positions with fine tuning capability at all locations. Coarse tuning is accomplished via a toothed, detented disk and a spirally-extending rim having a follower lever operable therewith."

  2. 2
    a hinged catch that fits into a notch of a ratchet to move a wheel forward or prevent it from moving backward wordnet
Verb
  1. 1
    The action of locking or unlocking movement by way of a detent mechanism

Etymology

Etymology 1

From French détente, from Latin tendō (“to stretch”).

Etymology 2

From French détente, from Latin tendō (“to stretch”).

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