detector

American  

[dih-tek-ter] / dɪˈtɛk tər /

noun

• detectors
  plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• detectors
  plural

Etymology

Origin of detector

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

Explanation

A detector is a machine that responds to particular substances in a consistent way. Everyone who flies on an airplane must pass through a metal detector, which beeps when it senses metal. A "lie detector" works by measuring pulse and eye movements as a person responds to a series of questions. A radioactivity detector looks for high levels of radioactivity in nuclear power plants. Since the invention of detectors, the idea of more fantastical detectors has filled the human imagination. A love detector: why not?

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

detector detectors

During the 80-minute crossing, while running on LNG, gas detector alarms sounded inside the ship, and crew in the gas tank room reported hearing a strange noise.

From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026

By effectively using the entire Earth as a detector for a particular range of axion masses, the researchers placed new limits on how strongly axions could interact with light.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 6, 2026

Where rapper MGK, best known as Machine Gun Kelly, set off a hand-held metal detector with his chain.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026

I think this is where the detector is most likely to totally miss an LLM’s help.

From Slate ● Aug. 18, 2026

Coach’s stare made him feel like he was hooked to a lie detector.

From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty

And while some safety systems were absent, he said the gas detectors apparently functioned as they should do, triggering an automatic shut down of the fuel supply.

From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026

To search for dark matter, LZ uses extremely sensitive light detectors to capture particle interactions.

From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026

As particle accelerators became more powerful and detectors grew increasingly sensitive, researchers gained access to subtler physical processes.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 2, 2026

Security will be tight with all spectators passing through metal detectors.

From Barron's ● Aug. 22, 2026

That meant a security check with metal detectors.

From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland

Related Words

• radar