English Explanatory Dictionary

detective

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A police officer tasked with collecting evidence and information in order to solve a crime; an investigator.
  2. A person employed to find information not otherwise available to the public.
adj
  1. Employed in detecting.

Pronunciation

/dɪˈtɛktɪv/ [dɪˈtʰɛktʰɪv] LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-detective.wav /dəˈtɛktɪv/ [dəˈtʰɛktʰɪv] LL-Q1860 (eng)-Wodencafe-detective.wav

Word forms

detective detectives

Etymology

The adjective is from Classical Latin dētēct-, past participial stem of dētegō (“to detect”), + -ive. The noun is an ellipsis of detective policeman, detective officer, or a similar construction.

Synonyms

DT Det Det. sleuth beagle bloodhound detective hawkshaw investigator Sherlock sleuthhound 'tec police detective private detective private investigator dick private dick gumshoe

Related words

detect detection detector

Derived words

antidetective cyberdetective detective gag detectivelike detective story detective work dogtective house detective detective chief inspector detective chief superintendent detective constable detective inspector detective sergeant detective superintendent woman detective constable nondetective private detective store detective stump detective superdetective
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