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sensor

American  
[sen-sawr, -ser] / ˈsɛn sɔr, -sər /

noun

  1. a mechanical device sensitive to light, temperature, radiation level, or the like, that transmits a signal to a measuring or control instrument.

  2. a sense organ.


sensor British  
/ ˈsɛnsə /

noun

  1. anything, such as a photoelectric cell, that receives a signal or stimulus and responds to it

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of sensor

First recorded in 1925–30; sense + -or 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Leite suggests that perovskites could be used in sensors or actuators that are activated or adjusted by light instead of electricity.

From Science Daily

For that, the Armstrong team had a more focused role designing and testing the network of hundreds of sensors that would be the agency’s eyes and ears for the test.

From Los Angeles Times

Their cameras, sensors and bots do the work that 60,000 security guards once did.

From BBC

Already, Apple's AirPods are being steadily improved with sensors and smart software, and lessons learned from the Vision Pro could feed into AI smart glasses to rival Meta's.

From Barron's

Cavill co-founded a company that uses a wristband to predict women’s hot flashes, paired with a cooling mattress pad, so she knows a thing or two about sensors.

From The Wall Street Journal