disengage

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dis·en·gage / ˌdisenˈgāj/ • v. 1. [tr.] detach, free, loosen, or separate (something): I disengaged his hand from mine. ∎  detach oneself; get loose: they clung together for a moment, then she disengaged herself. ∎  [intr.] become released: the clutch will not disengage. ∎  remove (troops) from an area of conflict: the cease-fire gave the commanders a chance to disengage their forces | [intr.] it seemed the only means by which the Americans could disengage from Korea. 2. [intr.] Fencing pass the point of one's sword over or under the opponent's sword to change the line of attack.