First Known Use: 1574
Dictionary
detect
verb de·tect \di-ˈtekt, dē-\
: to discover or notice the presence of (something that is hidden or hard to see, hear, taste, etc.)
Full Definition of DETECT
transitive verb
1
: to discover the true character of
2
: to discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of <detect alcohol in the blood>
3
intransitive verb
: to work as a detective
— de·tect·abil·i·ty \-ˌtek-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun
— de·tect·able \-ˈtek-tə-bəl\ adjective
See detect defined for English-language learners
See detect defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of DETECT
Middle English, from Latin detectus, past participle of detegere to uncover, detect, from de- + tegere to cover — more at thatch
Related to DETECT
- Synonyms
- ascertain, descry, find, determine, dig out, dig up, discover, dredge (up), ferret (out), find out, get, hit (on or upon), hunt (down or up), learn, locate, nose out, root (out), rout (out), rummage, run down, scare up, scout (up), track (down), turn up
Rhymes with DETECT
abject, advect, affect, aspect, bisect, cathect, collect, confect, connect, convect, correct, cowl-necked, defect, deflect, deject, direct, Dordrecht, effect, eject, elect, erect, ewe-necked, expect, goosenecked, infect, inflect, inject, insect, inspect, neglect, object, pandect, porrect, prefect, prelect, project, prospect, protect, refect, reflect, reject, resect, respect, ring-necked, roll-necked, select, stiff-necked, subject, suspect, traject, transect, trisect, Utrecht, V-necked
DETECT Defined for Kids
detect
verb de·tect \di-ˈtekt\
de·tect·edde·tect·ing
Definition of DETECT for Kids
: to learn that something or someone is or was there <detect smoke>
— de·tec·tor \-ˈtek-tər\ noun
Learn More About DETECT
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: detectaphonePrevious Word in the Dictionary: detdAll Words Near: detect
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up detect? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).