Plain English Meaning

A built-in catch point that holds a lever in place at a specific position. You feel a small click or resistance, and the lever stays there until you deliberately push it past.

Full Definition

A mechanical stop or notch in a control mechanism that holds a lever, switch, or selector in a defined position until enough force is applied to move it past that point. In thrust reverser systems, detents in the power lever quadrant separate forward thrust, idle, and reverse thrust ranges so the pilot can feel each position distinctly.