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attachment

 [ah-tach´ment]
1. the development of strong affectional ties between an infant and a significant other (mother, father, sibling, caretaker); this is a psychological, rather than a biological, process.
2. the initial stage of infection of a cell by a virus, in which the viral envelope finds a suitable receptor on the cell surface, enabling the virus to enter. Called also adsorption.
risk for impaired parent/infant/child attachment a nursing diagnosis accepted by the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association, defined as disruption of the interactive process between parent/significant other and infant that fosters the development of a protective and nurturing reciprocal relationship. Possible causes include inadequacy of the parent or parent substitute (such as anxiety or substance abuse), illness in the child, physical separation, lack of privacy, and others.
Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.

at·tach·ment

(ă-tach'ment),
1. A connection of one part with another.
2. In dentistry, a mechanical device for the fixation and stabilization of a dental prosthesis.
3. In psychiatry and psychology, a concept encompassing the strength and style of connectedness in primate relationships.
Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

attachment

Informatics A file (e.g., in a .pdf, .jpg or other format) that is often sent with an email.
MedspeakUK A term of art for a specific post (job) within an educational programme.
Psychology A popular term for the emotional bond between people (e.g., infant with primary caregiver; parent with child; husband with wife) or any long-lasting bond that a person develops toward another person or object.
Segen's Medical Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.

attachment

Psychiatry The behavior of an organism that relates in an affiliative or dependent manner to another object which develops during critical periods of life and can be extinguished by lack of opportunity to relate; if separation occurs before maturation can provide for adaptive adjustment, personality deviation can occur
McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

at·tach·ment

(ă-tach'mĕnt)
1. A connection of one part with another.
2. dentistry A mechanical device for the fixation and stabilization of a dental prosthesis.
Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012

attachment

an enlargement of the base of an algal THALLUS by which the plant is anchored to the SUBSTRATE.
Collins Dictionary of Biology, 3rd ed. © W. G. Hale, V. A. Saunders, J. P. Margham 2005

at·tach·ment

(ă-tach'mĕnt)
1. In dentistry, a mechanical device for the fixation and stabilization of a dental prosthesis.
2. A connection of one part with another.
Medical Dictionary for the Dental Professions © Farlex 2012