overwordExplorer
ENGLISH · A WORD WITH POSSIBILITIES

detector.

A device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon, and that optionally sounds an alarm or triggers a warning.

8 characters3 syllables approx.English language

Meaning & usage

noun/dɪˈtɛktə(ɹ)/UK
  1. A device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon, and that optionally sounds an alarm or triggers a warning.

    Smoke detectors are mandatory in public buildings.
  2. A device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon, and that optionally sounds an alarm or triggers a warning. An indicator showing the depth of the water in a boiler.

  3. A device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon, and that optionally sounds an alarm or triggers a warning. A galvanometer, usually portable, for indicating the direction of a current.

  4. A device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon, and that optionally sounds an alarm or triggers a warning. A device measuring radiation or electromagnetic waves.

Where this word comes from

Borrowed from Latin dētēctor. Equals detect + -or (agent noun forming suffix).

FROM WORD TO NAME

Try it on your idea.

detector has 8 characters. Say it out loud, try it alongside a description of your project, and see whether its meaning fits what you want to create.

detector studiodetector workshello, detector

These are naming prompts. Meanings and pronunciation can vary; existing brand and domain uses have not been checked.

Explore the name generator

A word with a source.

Definitions, grammatical labels, IPA, etymology and examples: Wiktionary contributors, extracted by Kaikki / Wiktextract. Adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0. Selected fields and authored examples are shown; third-party quotations and audio are omitted. See contributor history.

Last enriched 2026-09-10. Definitions are in English. Romanizations are shown when supplied by the source; syllable estimates are omitted for unsupported scripts.