detector

noun

de·​tec·​tor di-ˈtek-tər How to pronounce detector (audio)
: one that detects: such as
a
: a device for detecting the presence of electromagnetic waves or of radioactivity
b
: a rectifier of high-frequency current used especially for extracting the intelligence from a radio signal

Examples of detector in a Sentence

using metal detectors to improve safety at airports a motion detector to thwart burglaries
Recent Examples on the Web After noticing discrepancies between the handheld detectors and other types of air testing in use in East Palestine, the EPA studied the devices over the summer. Brenda Goodman, CNN, 9 Mar. 2024 In an article from technology magazine Wired, data from the company formerly known as ShotSpotter shows numerous detectors concentrated solely on the east side of Indianapolis – starting directly east of downtown. Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 23 Feb. 2024 Last, the detector can distinguish a methane plume from widespread background methane levels that may have existed. Ian Palmer, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 There are also several online detectors capable of determining to varying degrees of accuracy if an image is authentic or AI-generated. Joedy McCreary, USA TODAY, 18 Feb. 2024 Safety tips: Get carbon monoxide detectors Expenses aside, energy experts also urge customers to use safety measures to protect against gas explosions, and carbon monoxide poisoning. Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press, 3 Jan. 2024 Yet the demise of AI detectors is greatly exaggerated. IEEE Spectrum, 26 Feb. 2024 No matter how complex its behavior, any robot has only a limited number of sensors that pick up information about the environment (cameras, radar, lidar, microphones and carbon monoxide detectors, to name a few examples). David Berreby, Scientific American, 20 Feb. 2024 Lentini said an Apple engineer told him the Apple Vision Pro has a steering-wheel detector that does not allow users in the driver seat to use its apps. Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'detector.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1541, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of detector was in 1541

Dictionary Entries Near detector

Cite this Entry

“Detector.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detector. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

detector

noun
de·​tec·​tor di-ˈtek-tər How to pronounce detector (audio)
1
: one that detects or warns
a smoke detector
2
: a device in a radio receiver for changing the high-frequency current of radio waves into current that can vibrate a loudspeaker to reproduce the original sound

Medical Definition

detector

noun
de·​tec·​tor di-ˈtek-tər How to pronounce detector (audio)
: one that detects
especially : a device for detecting the presence of electromagnetic waves or of radioactivity

More from Merriam-Webster on detector

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