sensor

noun sen·sor \ ˈsen-ˌsȯr , ˈsen(t)-sər \

Updated on: 21 Feb 2018

Definition of sensor

1 : a device that responds to a physical stimulus (such as heat, light, sound, pressure, magnetism, or a particular motion) and transmits a resulting impulse (as for measurement or operating a control)

2 : sense organ

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See sensor defined for kids

Examples of sensor in a Sentence

Image sensors are used in digital cameras.
Infrared sensors can track an object's movement.

Recent Examples of sensor from the Web

Those sensors spur cameras to roll, with the videos sent to one of the private firms that screens the videos.

— matthew walberg, chicagotribune.com, "Some suburbs take only seconds to review red light camera citations, analysis shows," 8 Feb. 2018
He had been stopped when sensors from electronic items set off an alarm.

— andy attina / cleveland.com, cleveland.com, "Man pushes cart of stolen merchandise into officers: South Euclid Police Blotter," 7 Feb. 2018
Each SmartBroom has four sensors in the broom head that relay data to a small display unit.

— scott cacciola, New York Times, "Engineering Marvel of the Winter Olympics: A Broom," 6 Feb. 2018
They would be controlled by various motion sensors and blink on and off in a way that is designed to mimic the velocity, rolling, pitching and other movements of a vehicle.

— The Economist, "The upchuck wagonPreventing passengers in autonomous cars from feeling queasy," 1 Feb. 2018
Aircraft electro-optical and infrared sensors can also read terrain over short distances to provide additional navigation.

— eric tegler, Popular Mechanics, "The Air Force Turned Off GPS To Rehearse a War Without It," 1 Feb. 2018
No cause was immediately apparent, but sensors aboard Columbia reported a sudden spike of intense heat, an indication that the ship's heat shield had been breached — possibly on that left wing.

— martin merzer and phil long, miamiherald, "Columbia space shuttle blew up 15 years ago | Miami Herald," 31 Jan. 2018
As crude prices crept up from the 2016 bottom of $26 a barrel, oil companies sought ways to profit at lower prices, using computers, sensors and other technologies to drill wells and get more out of them.

— collin eaton, San Antonio Express-News, "More oil, but less workers," 30 Jan. 2018
The tech company and FCA worked closely to design the minivans to easily accommodate Google’s self-driving systems, including sensors and computers.

— kirsten korosec, Fortune, "Fiat Chrysler Is Ramping up Production on 'Thousands' of Self-Driving Minivans," 29 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sensor.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Sensors are used today almost everywhere. Radar guns bounce microwaves off moving cars. A burglar alarm may use a photosensor to detect when a beam of light has been broken, or may use ultrasonic sound waves that bounce off moving objects. Still other sensors may detect pressure (barometers) or chemicals (Breathalyzers and smoke detectors). Stud finders, used by carpenters to locate wooden studs under a wall, may employ magnets or radar. Wired gloves, which relay information about the position of the fingers, are used in virtual-reality environments. A cheap car alarm may be nothing but a shock sensor, in which a strong vibration will cause two metal surfaces to come together.

Origin and Etymology of sensor

Latin sentire to perceive + English ¹-or — more at sense

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1928

See Words from the same year

sensor Synonyms

Synonyms

detector;

Related Words

eye;

electric eye, photoelectric cell;

alarm (also alarum), trigger;

SENSOR Defined for English Language Learners

sensor

noun

Definition of sensor for English Language Learners

: a device that detects or senses heat, light, sound, motion, etc., and then reacts to it in a particular way

Medical Dictionary

sensor

noun sen·sor \ ˈsen-ˌsȯ(ə)r , ˈsen(t)-sər \

medical Definition of sensor

: a device that responds to a physical stimulus (as heat, light, sound, pressure, magnetism, or a particular motion) and transmits a resulting impulse (as for measurement or operating a control); also : sense organ