1 a (often foll. by in) reveal the guilt of; discover (detected him in his crime). b discover (a crime).
2 discover or perceive the existence or presence of (detected a smell of burning; do I detect a note of sarcasm?).
3 Physics use an instrument to observe (a signal, radiation, etc.).
Derivatives:
detectable adj. detectably adv.
Etymology: L detegere detect- (as DE-, tegere cover)
Useful english dictionary. 2012.