detect

de·tect

verb \di-ˈtekt, dē-\

Definition of DETECT

transitive verb

1

: to discover the true character of

2

: to discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of <detect alcohol in the blood>

3

: demodulate

intransitive verb

: to work as a detective

— de·tect·abil·i·ty \-ˌtek-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

— de·tect·able \-ˈtek-tə-bəl\ adjective

Examples of DETECT

1. The test is used to detect the presence of alcohol in the blood.
2. This type of cancer is difficult to detect in its early stages.

Origin of DETECT

Middle English, from Latin detectus, past participle of detegere to uncover, detect, from de- + tegere to cover — more at thatch

First Known Use: 1574

Related to DETECT

Synonyms: ascertain, descry, find, determine, dig out, dig up, discover, dredge (up), ferret (out), find out, get, hit (on or upon), hunt (down or up), learn, locate, nose out, root (out), rout (out), rummage, run down, scare up, scout (up), track (down), turn up

Antonyms: miss, overlook, pass over

Related Words: espy, sight, spot; look for, search (for or out), seek

Near Antonyms: lose, mislay, misplace, misset

[+]more[-]hide

Rhymes with DETECT

abject, advect, affect, aspect, bisect, cathect, collect, confect, connect, convect, correct, cowl-necked, defect, deflect, deject, direct, Dordrecht, effect, eject, elect, erect, ewe-necked, expect, goosenecked, infect, inflect, inject, insect, inspect, neglect, object, pandect, porrect, prefect, prelect, project, prospect, protect, refect, reflect, reject, resect, respect, ring-necked, roll-necked, select, stiff-necked, subject, suspect, traject, transect, trisect, Utrecht, V-necked