- to discover or catch (a person) in the performance of some act: to detect someone cheating.
- to discover the existence of: to detect the odor of gas.
- to find out the true character or activity of: to detect a spy.
- Telecommunications.
- to rectify alternating signal currents in a radio receiver.
- to demodulate.
- to perceive or notice
- to discover the existence or presence of (esp something likely to elude observation)
- to extract information from (an electromagnetic wave)
- to reveal or expose (a crime, criminal, etc)
