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Definition of detector

detector

/dɪˈtɛktɚ/
de · tec · tor
Plural:detectors
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detector Lexical Profile

detector Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A device or instrument designed to sense, measure, or record the presence of a specific physical property, substance, or phenomenon.

Example

"Every bedroom in the new house was equipped with a smoke detector for fire safety."

2

An electronic component in a radio receiver or communication system that extracts information from a modulated wave.

Example

"The engineering students built a simple crystal radio utilizing a diode as the detector."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for detector
Antonyms
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• Rhymes for detector

• Nearby Words

detectably
detection
detective
detector
detention
deter
detergent

Word Origin & Etymology

From Late Latin 'detector' (a discoverer or revealer), derived from the Latin verb 'detegere' (to uncover), formed by 'de-' (un-, off) + 'tegere' (to cover).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Detector. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/detector
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