detecting

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

de•tect /dɪˈtɛkt/   v. [~ + object]

1. to discover or notice the existence of; find or find out:
   to detect the odor of gas.
2. to discover (a person) in an act:
   to detect someone cheating.
3. to discover the true nature of:
   I detected a note of pity in her voice.

de•tect•a•ble, de•tect•i•ble, adj. 
de•tec•tion /dɪˈtɛkʃən/  n. [uncountable]
de•tec•tor, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

de•tect  (di tekt′), v.t. 

1. to discover or catch (a person) in the performance of some act:
   to detect someone cheating.
2. to discover the existence of:
   to detect the odor of gas.
3. to find out the true character or activity of:
   to detect a spy.
4. Telecommunications
   • to rectify alternating signal currents in a radio receiver.
   • to demodulate.

• Latin dētēctus (past participle of dētegere), equivalent. to dē- de- + teg(ere) to cover + -tus past participle suffix
• late Middle English 1400–50

de•tect′a•ble, de•tect′i•ble, adj. 
de•tect′a•bil′i•ty, de•tect′i•bil′i•ty, n. 
Synonyms

• 2. See learn. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

detect / dɪˈtɛkt/ verb (transitive)

1. to perceive or notice: to detect a note of sarcasm
2. to discover the existence or presence of (esp something likely to elude observation)
3. to extract information from (an electromagnetic wave)
4. to reveal or expose (a crime, criminal, etc)

Etymology: 15th Century: from Latin dētectus uncovered, from dētegere to uncover, from de- + tegere to cover

deˈtectable, deˈtectible adjective