detect
dih-TEHKT
Detect (verb) means to discover or notice something, often through careful observation or testing. Example: “Smoke alarms detect fumes long before you can see any flames.”
verb
1
To discover or notice something, often through careful observation or testing.
"Smoke alarms detect fumes long before you can see any flames."
"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
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- detects
- Past tense
- detected
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Smoke alarms _____ fumes long before you can see any flames.
Etymology
From Latin detegere, "to uncover" — from de- ("off") and tegere ("to cover").
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “detect” mean?
The word “detect” means to discover or notice something, often through careful observation or testing. In plain terms, to find or notice something that isn't obvious at first.
How do you pronounce “detect”?
“Detect” is pronounced dih-TEHKT (/dɪˈtɛkt/ in IPA).
How do you use “detect” in a sentence?
Here is “detect” used in a sentence: “The scanner can detect even trace amounts of the chemical.”
What part of speech is “detect”?
“Detect” is a verb.
Where does the word “detect” come from?
The word “detect” comes from Latin. From Latin detegere, "to uncover" — from de- ("off") and tegere ("to cover").
Is “detect” a common word?
“Detect” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between detect and discover?
To detect something is to notice or discover it through careful observation or testing, and it usually implies the thing was hidden, faint, or easy to miss, such as a gas leak or a slight change in tone. Discover is broader and simply means to find something for the first time.
What is the difference between detect and notice?
Notice suggests ordinary, often casual perception, as when you notice a friend's new haircut. Detect implies deliberate attention, careful observation, or the use of tests and instruments to find something subtle or concealed, such as detecting a fault, a disease, or a hint of sarcasm.
What is the noun form of detect?
The noun is detection, meaning the act of discovering or noticing something, as in "early detection of disease." A person or device that detects something is a detector, as in smoke detector and metal detector.
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