detect
verb /dɪˈtekt/
/dɪˈtekt/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they detect | /dɪˈtekt/ /dɪˈtekt/ |
| he / she / it detects | /dɪˈtekts/ /dɪˈtekts/ |
| past simple detected | /dɪˈtektɪd/ /dɪˈtektɪd/ |
| past participle detected | /dɪˈtektɪd/ /dɪˈtektɪd/ |
| -ing form detecting | /dɪˈtektɪŋ/ /dɪˈtektɪŋ/ |
- detect something to discover or notice something, especially something that is not easy to see, hear, etc.
- The tests are designed to detect the disease early.
- Only 8 per cent of regular cola consumers detected a difference.
- The sensor detects changes light level and temperature.
- a test that can detect the presence of calcium in the arteries
- This is an instrument that can detect very small amounts of radiation.
- Do I detect a note of criticism?
Synonyms noticenotice- note
- detect
- observe
- witness
- notice to see, hear or become aware of somebody/something; to pay attention to somebody/something:
- The first thing I noticed about the room was the smell.
- note (rather formal) to notice or pay careful attention to something:
- Please note (that) the office will be closed on Monday.
- detect to discover or notice something, especially something that is not easy to see, hear, etc:
- The tests are designed to detect the disease early.
- observe (formal) to see or notice somebody/something:
- Have you observed any changes lately?
- The police observed a man enter the bank.
- witness (rather formal) to see something happen:
- Police have appealed for anyone who witnessed the incident to contact them.
- to notice/note/detect/observe that/how/what/where/who…
- to notice/observe/witness something happen/somebody do something
Extra ExamplesTopics Scientific researchb2- Some cancers can now be cured if they are detected early.
- Some substances can be detected fairly easily.
- The test failed to detect any illegal substances.
- a machine that is sensitive enough to detect tiny amounts of explosives
- These creatures are so small they would be impossible to detect with the human eye.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- early
- late
- quickly
- …
- be able to
- be sensitive enough to
- can
- …
- be capable of detecting something
- a means of detecting something
- a method of detecting something
- …
Word Originlate Middle English: from Latin detect- ‘uncovered’, from the verb detegere, from de- (expressing reversal) + tegere ‘to cover’. The original senses were ‘uncover, expose’ and ‘give someone away’, later ‘expose the real or hidden nature of’; hence the current senses (partly influenced by detective).