detector
- 01 B1 Intermediate
a device that finds something hidden or dangerous and often makes a sound to warn you.
an instrument designed to sense and signal the presence of a specific physical stimulus, such as smoke, heat, or radiation.
Simple“The smoke detector started beeping because I burnt the toast.”
In context“The building's fire safety system includes a sensitive smoke detector in every hallway to ensure rapid evacuation in an emergency.”
Usageoften used in compound nouns like 'smoke detector' or 'metal detector'.
- 02 C1 Advanced
a part of a radio or electronic machine that picks up a signal and changes it into sound or information.
a circuit or component in a receiver that extracts information from a modulated carrier wave.
Simple“The radio uses a small detector to turn the signal into music.”
In context“In early wireless telegraphy, the coherer served as a primitive detector of radio waves before more reliable vacuum tubes were developed.”
Usagetypically used in the context of electronics, physics, or telecommunications.
Synonymsdemodulatorreceiver
Borrowed from Latin dētēctor. Equals detect + -or (agent noun forming suffix).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.