anschließt

Anschließen is a German verb meaning to connect, attach, or join. It is used both for physical connections, such as electrical or mechanical linking, and for figurative joins, like affiliating with a group or organization. Examples include das Gerät an die Steckdose anschließen (to connect the device to the power supply) and sich einer Partei anschließen (to join a party).

Grammatical notes: Anschließen is a separable-prefix verb. In the present tense the prefix is separated, so the correct form is schließt an (for example, er schließt das Kabel an). The infinitive is anschließen, and the past participle is angeschlossen, used with haben (Ich habe das Kabel angeschlossen). The form anschließt as a single word is not the standard present-tense form; the conventional written form is zwei Worte: schließt an.

Related noun: der Anschluss, meaning a connection, junction, or link, and commonly used in contexts such as Internetanschluss (internet connection) or Bahnanschluss (train connection). The noun often denotes a physical port, a network interface, or the act of connecting.

Usage notes: In technology, anschließen describes physically connecting devices, cables, or components. In social or organizational contexts, sich anschließen expresses affiliation or alignment with a group, movement, or institution. The nuance depends on whether a direct object is present (to connect something) or a reflexive construction (to join oneself to something).

Etymology and cognates: The verb derives from an- (on, onto) and schließen (to close). The sense evolved from bringing something onto another element to establish a link or association. See also Anschluss (connection) and Anschlussfähigkeit (connectivity).

See also: Anschluss, Anschlussfähigkeit, Sich anschließen, to join.