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.

---

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

---

Etymology

Origin of detector

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

Example Sentences

Upcoming galaxy surveys, cosmic microwave background studies, and gravitational wave detectors are reaching the sensitivity needed to examine ideas that were once purely theoretical.

From Science Daily

Feed an Iranian news dispatch or a literary classic into some text detectors, and they return the same verdict: AI-generated.

From Barron's

Tuft cells act as detectors that sense parasites and initiate immune defenses.

From Science Daily

Ask potential insurers about discounts for security systems, smoke detectors, energy rating, having a long-term policy without any payments and/or even being a nonsmoker.

From MarketWatch

In his letter to Weber, Curtis promised to take a lie detector test after each election.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• radar