to discover or notice that something exists, especially something that is hard to see, hear, or measure
Special sensors can detect gas leaks before they become dangerous.
The doctor used a stethoscope to detect an irregular heartbeat.
a police officer whose job is to find out who committed crimes by gathering information and evidence
The detective examined the crime scene for clues.
After hours of questioning, the seasoned detective found the missing link in the case.
✦ From Latin dētectus, past participle of dētegere “to uncover”, later used in the phrase detective police in the 1840s.
a person who investigates cases for private clients rather than for the police
They hired a detective to find their stolen jewelry.
The detective followed the target through the busy market.
✦ Sense extended from police detective to freelance private investigators in late 19th century American English.
connected with solving crimes or mysteries, or describing stories about such investigations
She enjoys reading detective novels on rainy evenings.
The festival is screening classic detective films.
✦ Attributive use of the noun appearing by the late 19th century to describe fiction and films about detectives.
the act or process of discovering or noticing the existence of something, often something hidden or hard to find.
Early detection of the disease can save many lives.
The police used fingerprints for the detection of the criminal.
✦ From late Latin dētectiōn-, from Latin dētegere (“to uncover, expose”), from dē- (“from, away”) + tegere (“to cover”).
