detector

American  

[dih-tek-ter] / dɪˈtɛk tər /

noun

1. a person or thing that detects.

2. a device for detecting smoke, fire, or some other hazardous condition.

3. a device for detecting the presence of metal, contraband, or other items that might be hidden or concealed.

4. Telecommunications.

   1. a device for detecting electric oscillations or waves.

   2. a device, as a crystal detector or a vacuum tube, that rectifies the alternating current in a radio receiver.

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detector British  

/ dɪˈtɛktə /

noun

1. a person or thing that detects

2. any mechanical sensing device

3. electronics a device used in the detection of radio signals

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Etymology

Origin of detector

1535–45; < Late Latin dētēctor revealer, equivalent to Latin dēteg ( ere ) to uncover, reveal ( detect ) + -tor -tor

Example Sentences

The same detectors could then capture signals from both imaging methods.

From Science Daily

In the first she flew up to the ceiling and began puffing at the smoke detector mounted above his door.

From Literature

Technologies developed for the experiment, such as advanced muonium production targets, low energy positron transport systems, and high resolution detectors, may also find uses in fields like materials science and medical research.

From Science Daily

In 4Q the company was selected to supply space-based infrared detectors to the majority of prime contractors on the newly awarded U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal

To examine these anomalies more closely, scientists built MicroBooNE at Fermilab, a detector designed to capture neutrino interactions in unprecedented detail.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• radar