verb
detect
dih-TEHKT
verb
1
To discover or notice something, often through careful observation or testing.
"The scanner can detect even trace amounts of the chemical."
"She detected a hint of sarcasm in his reply."
How to Use Detect
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo find or notice something that isn't obvious at first.
Common pairings
detect a signal
detect a change
hard to detect
Word Forms
detected past tense, detected past tense, detects singular, detects singular
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The scanner can _____ even trace amounts of the chemical.
Etymology
From Latin detegere, "to uncover" — from de- ("off") and tegere ("to cover").