Definition

1. Noun:
   • A device or instrument that discovers or identifies the presence of something: A "detector" is a piece of equipment designed to sense and often indicate the existence of a specific substance, signal, or condition.
   • A component that extracts information from a signal: In electronics, a "detector" can refer to a circuit that recovers the information content from a carrier wave.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The smoke detector started beeping, alerting us to a potential fire.
  • Security personnel used a metal detector to screen passengers at the airport.
  • The radio's detector circuit converts the received signal into audio.

Advanced Usage

• "lie detector": A polygraph, an instrument that measures physiological indicators believed to be associated with deception.
  • The suspect was asked to take a lie detector test.
• "flame detector": A sensor designed to identify and respond to the presence of a flame or fire.
  • The industrial furnace is equipped with an automatic flame detector.

Variants and Related Words

• Detect (verb): To discover or identify the presence or existence of something.
  • The test can detect the virus early.
• Detection (noun): The action or process of identifying the presence of something.
  • Early detection of the disease is crucial.
• Detective (noun): A person, especially a police officer, whose occupation is to investigate crimes and discover information.
  • The detective solved the complex case.

Synonyms

• Sensor: A device that detects or measures a physical property.
• Scanner: A device that examines something systematically to obtain information.
• Probe: An instrument used for exploring, measuring, or obtaining information.

Related Phrases

• "motion detector": A device that senses moving objects, particularly people, and is often used for security lighting or alarms.
  • The lights are activated by a motion detector.
• "gas detector": An instrument that identifies the presence of gases in an area.
  • Miners carry gas detectors for safety underground.

Noun

1. electronic equipment that detects the presence of radio signals or radioactivity
2. rectifier that extracts modulation from a radio carrier wave
3. any device that receives a signal or stimulus (as heat or pressure or light or motion etc.) and responds to it in a distinctive manner