detector
B2Neutral to Technical
Definition
Meaning
A device or instrument designed to identify the presence or existence of something.
A person or system that discovers or reveals something.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily denotes a technological device. Can be used metaphorically for a person with sharp observational skills.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling and pronunciation are consistent. Usage contexts are identical. Lexical collocations show no regional variation.
Connotations
Neutral, technical connotation in both variants.
Frequency
Equally common in both UK and US English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
detector + for/of + [substance/phenomenon]detector + that + clauseVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A good lie detector (metaphorical for a perceptive person)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in security and safety equipment procurement.
Academic
Common in physics, engineering, chemistry, and security studies.
Everyday
Mostly refers to home safety devices like smoke or carbon monoxide detectors.
Technical
Precise instruments for measuring specific phenomena (e.g., photon detector, flaw detector).
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- detector-equipped
- detector-based system
American English
- detector-equipped
- detector-based system
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The smoke detector beeped because the battery was low.
- We went through the metal detector at the airport.
- Every home should have a carbon monoxide detector for safety.
- The security guard used a metal detector to check for weapons.
- The new motion detector lights are activated by any movement after dark.
- Scientists calibrated the radiation detector before the experiment.
- The sophisticated lie detector polygraph measures multiple physiological responses.
- This photon detector can identify single particles of light with incredible precision.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of DETECTIVE + OR. A detector is the 'tool' a detective uses to find things.
Conceptual Metaphor
TOOLS ARE AGENTS (The detector 'finds' or 'sniffs out' things).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as "детектор" for all contexts; Russian "детектор" is highly technical. For everyday devices like smoke alarms, "датчик" or "сигнализатор" may be more fitting conceptually.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'detector' for a person (archaic; use 'detective'). Misspelling as 'detecter'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a typical collocation with 'detector'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily yes, but it can be used metaphorically for a person (e.g., 'She's a great lie detector'), though this is less common.
Often interchangeable, but a 'sensor' often implies a component that measures a physical property, while a 'detector' often implies a complete device that identifies the presence of something specific and may trigger an action.
No, the verb form is 'to detect'. 'Detector' is exclusively a noun.
The standard plural is 'detectors' (e.g., 'The building has multiple smoke detectors').
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