detect

• POS: Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: de=tect

OXFORD DICTIONARY

detect, v.tr.
1 a (often foll. by in) reveal the guilt of; discover (detected him in his crime). b discover (a crime).
2 discover or perceive the existence or presence of (detected a smell of burning; do I detect a note of sarcasm?).
3 Physics use an instrument to observe (a signal, radiation, etc.).

Derivative

detectable adj. detectably adv.

Etymology

L detegere detect- (as DE-, tegere cover)

THESAURUS

detect

ascertain, catch, descry, determine, dig up, discern, discover, distinguish, encounter, espy, feel, find, find out, hit, identify, locate, make out, note, notice, observe, perceive, pick up, read, recognize, scent, see, sense, smell, spot, spy, uncover, unearth

ROGET THESAURUS

detect

Discovery

VB discover, find, determine, evolve, learn, fix upon, pick up, find out, trace out, make out, hunt out, fish out, worm out, ferret out, root out, fathom, bring out, draw out, educe, elicit, bring to light, dig out, grub up, fish up, unearth, disinter, solve, resolve, elucidate, unriddle, unravel, unlock, crack, crack open, pick up, open the lock, find a clue, find clew a to, find the key to the riddle, interpret, disclose, trace, get at, hit it, have it, lay one's finger, lay one's hands upon, spot, get at the truth, arrive at the truth, put the saddle on the right horse, hit the right nail on the head, be near the truth, be warm, get warmer, burn, smoke, scent, sniff, catch a whiff of, smell a rat, open the eyes to, see through, see daylight, see in its true colors, see the cloven foot, detect, catch, catch tripping, pitch upon, fall upon, light upon, hit upon, stumble upon, pop upon, come across, come onto, meet with, meet up with, fall in with, recognize, realize, verify, make certain of, identify, Int, eureka!, aha!, I've got it!.