anschließen

Anschließen is a German verb that translates to "to connect," "to attach," or "to plug in" in English. Its meaning is highly dependent on the context in which it is used.

In a technical or electrical context, "anschließen" refers to making a physical connection, such as plugging in an appliance to a power outlet, connecting cables to a device, or wiring components together. For example, one might "schließe das Ladegerät an das Handy an" (connect the charger to the phone).

More broadly, "anschließen" can describe joining or attaching one thing to another in a non-technical sense. This could involve attaching a trailer to a car ("einen Anhänger an das Auto anschließen"), or even figuratively connecting ideas or concepts.

In a more abstract sense, "anschließen" can mean to follow on from something else, such as a sequel to a book or a follow-up event. For instance, "Der zweite Teil schließt an den ersten an" means "The second part follows on from the first."

The verb is also used in phrases that indicate joining a group or cause, such as "sich einer Bewegung anschließen" (to join a movement). The preposition used with "anschließen" can vary, commonly being "an" followed by the accusative case.