detector

noun

de·​tec·​tor di-ˈtek-tər 

: one that detects: such as

a

: a device for detecting the presence of electromagnetic waves or of radioactivity

b

: a rectifier of high-frequency current used especially for extracting the intelligence from a radio signal

Synonyms

• sensor

Examples of detector in a Sentence

using metal detectors to improve safety at airports

a motion detector to thwart burglaries

Recent Examples on the Web

Researchers debuted an 88 percent accurate hate-speech detector and a superior sarcasm detector and may be able to send messages back in time. —Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024

In the video, which does not have audio, the 16-year-old appears to be stopped and told to go back through the detectors multiple times. —Janelle Griffith, NBC News, 22 Oct. 2024

All was well until 6:20 a.m. when the music on the motion detector by the closet started to play. —Julie Jordan, People.com, 17 Oct. 2024

Access to an underground, gigantic gleaming steel detector orb is probably a good asset, too. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 17 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1541, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing detector

• lie detector
• metal detector
• radar detector
• smoke detector

Kids Definition

detector

noun

de·​tec·​tor di-ˈtek-tər 

1

: one that detects or warns

a smoke detector

2

: a device in a radio receiver for changing the high-frequency current of radio waves into current that can vibrate a loudspeaker to reproduce the original sound

Medical Definition

detector

noun

de·​tec·​tor di-ˈtek-tər 

: one that detects

especially : a device for detecting the presence of electromagnetic waves or of radioactivity