detect

/di'tekt/

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Explanation of the Word "Detect"

Definition:
The verb "detect" means to discover or find out something that is not easily seen or noticed. It often refers to discovering the existence or presence of something, like a problem, a substance, or a fact.

Advanced Usage:

In more advanced contexts, "detect" can also be used in technical fields such as medicine, where doctors may detect diseases through tests, or in technology, where software detects errors in code.

Different Meanings:

1. General Meaning: To notice or discover something.

   • Example: "I can detect a change in your mood."

2. Technical Meaning: To identify a particular substance or condition using instruments or tests.

   • Example: "The device can detect the presence of smoke."

Synonyms:

• Discover
• Identify
• Find
• Notice
• Recognize

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• Detect a pattern: This means to notice a repeated sequence or trend.

  • Example: "After analyzing the data, the researchers could detect a pattern in the results."

• Detect a lie: This means to realize that someone is not telling the truth.

  • Example: "She has a talent for detecting lies in people's stories."

Summary:

"Detect" is a useful verb for expressing the action of discovering something that is not obvious. It is used in various contexts, from everyday life to scientific research.

Academic

Verb

1. discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
   • She detected high levels of lead in her drinking water
   • We found traces of lead in the paint

Synonyms

• observe
• find
• discover
• notice