detect Meaning, Definition & Usage

verb discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
notice; observe; find; discover.
- She detected high levels of lead in her drinking water
- We found traces of lead in the paint

L. detectus, p. p. of detegere to uncover, detect; de + tegere to cover. See Tegument.

imperfect & past participle Detected; present participle & verbal noun Detecting

To uncover; to discover; to find out; to bring to light; as, to detect a crime or a criminal; to detect a mistake in an account.
Plain good intention . . . is as easily discovered at the first view, as fraud is surely detected at last. Burke.

Like following life through creatures you dissect, You lose it in the moment you detect. Pope.
To inform against; to accuse. Obs.
He was untruly judged to have preached such articles as he was detected of. Sir T. More.
Syn. -- To discover; find out; lay bare; expose.