A hinged catch that fits into a notch of a ratchet to move a wheel forward or prevent it from moving backward.
1When these crystals are warmed, the detent is lifted, and an outflow of light immediately begins.
2Arnold appeared entirely happy with his pivoted detent escapement-untilhe heard about Earnshaw's spring detent escapement in 1782.
3The counterpoise was, of course, now aloft, and was so maintained by a detent provided with a trigger.
4In their case the potential has never become actual, the light is, in fact, held back by a molecular detent.
5This arm striking against the ratchet detent releases the balance weight, and the belt is at once brought on to the loose pulley.
6As we are all aware, the detent escapement is used in fine pocket watches, still the general feeling of manufacturers is not favorable to it.
7Undoubtedly "the detent," or, as it is usually termed, "the chronometer escapement," is the most perfect of any of our portable time measurers.
8I ran my finger along the regulator, and found detents for the different power levels.
9What a rush it was to feel the buildup of thrust, just like jamming the throttles of a fighter into the afterburner detents.