detect
[verb]
Synonyms:
- notice, ascertain, identify, note, observe, perceive, recognize, spot
- discover, find, track down, uncover, unmask

---

English Thesaurus: notice, detect, spot, become aware/conscious, can tell, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

de‧tect W3 AC /dɪˈtekt/ verb [transitive]
[Word Family: noun: detection, detective; verb: detect; adjective: detectable ≠ INDETECTIBLE]
[Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: detectus, past participle of detegere 'to uncover']
to notice or discover something, especially something that is not easy to see, hear etc:
Many forms of cancer can be cured if detected early.
difficult/impossible/easy/possible etc to detect
detect a change/difference
Dan detected a change in her mood.
detect a note of sarcasm/irony/excitement etc
Do I detect a note of sarcasm in your voice?
—detectable adjective

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

detect
verb
ADV. early, late A lot of cancers can now be cured if they are detected early.
quickly | easily, readily Some substances can be detected fairly easily.
accurately
VERB + DETECT be able to, be sensitive enough to, can a machine that is sensitive enough to detect tiny amounts of explosives
be unable to | be designed to | fail to The test failed to detect any illegal substances.
be difficult to, be hard to, be impossible to | be easy to, be possible to | be used to
PHRASES be capable of detecting sth, a means/method/way of detecting sth

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

notice to realize that something is there or that something is happening, because you can see, hear, or feel it:
I noticed that he was rather quiet during dinner.
Children don’t seem to notice the cold.
‘Julie’s home.’ ‘Yes, I noticed her bicycle outside.’
detect to notice something that is difficult to see, hear etc because it is very small, faint, or unclear. Detect is used about people and machines, and is more formal than notice:
X-ray telescopes can now detect virtually every type of astronomical object.
He thought he detected a flicker of interest in her eyes.
spot to notice something, especially something that is difficult to see or that you see for a short time only. Spot is more informal than notice:
Can you spot the difference between these two pictures?
I’m glad you spotted the mistake before it was too late.
become aware/conscious to gradually begin to notice that something is happening or is true:
I became aware that Mum was getting a lot older.
Tessa became conscious of a feeling of guilt.
can tell to be able to notice something because you can see, smell, hear it etc:
I could tell that she had been drinking.
Can you tell I've lost weight?
something/somebody catches your eye used to say that you suddenly notice something or someone because they are interesting, attractive, or good at something:
I saw this shirt in the shop window and it just caught my eye.
Clarke caught the eye of boss Bryan Robson when he scored for Newry last week.
observe formal to notice something as a result of watching or studying it closely:
Psychologists observed that the mice became more aggressive in smaller cages.
perceive formal to notice something, especially that something is happening, or is true, or needs to be done:
The company quickly perceived the need for change.
Doctors perceive that they do not have adequate time to spend with their patients.
witness to see something happen because you are there at the time:
People have witnessed some great economic changes during the last ten years.
miss to not notice something because it is difficult to see:
It’s easy to miss the entrance – the sign is hidden behind a tree.
take notice (=pay attention to something)
I began to take notice when the subject of money came up.
take no notice/not take any notice (=ignore something or someone)
The other passengers took no notice of what was happening.
come to sb’s notice (=be noticed by someone)
This problem first came to our notice last summer.
escape sb’s notice (=not be noticed by someone)
It had not escaped his notice that Phil seemed interested in Jean.
bring something to sb’s notice (=tell someone about something)
It has been brought to my notice that employees are smoking in the restrooms.
attract notice (=be noticed by other people)
She didn’t want to attract notice, so she dressed very plainly.
give notice
To withdraw money from this type of savings account, you must give the bank 30 days’ notice.
serve notice formal (=warn someone about something)
They have served notice that they intend to take legal action against the company.
have/receive notice
If I’d had more notice, I could have done a better job.
need notice (also require notice formal)
The company requires a month’s notice of any holiday time you would like to take.
advance notice (also prior notice formal) (=given before an event)
We had no advance notice of the attack.
reasonable notice (=an amount that is considered to be fair to everyone)
Did you receive reasonable notice of the court case?
ten days’/three months’/five minutes’ etc notice
His contract said he must give three months’ notice if he decides to leave the job.
no notice
We received no notice of the changes.
at short notice (=without much time to prepare)
Thank you for coming to help at such short notice.
at a moment’s notice (=very quickly)
He’d be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.
without notice
Trains may be cancelled without notice.
until further notice (=from now until you are told something else)
On the door was a sign: ‘Library closed until further notice’.
notice to quit British English (=a warning that you must leave the house or flat where you live by a particular date)
The new owner gave all the tenants notice to quit.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲