detect

/dɪˈtekt/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪˈtekt/ (ame, ipa) · /di-ˈtekt dē-/ (ame, mw)

detect — 動詞

  • detectpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • detectshe / she / it
  • detectedpast simple
  • detecting-ing form

1. to become aware of something that is hard to see, hear, or notice because it is

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

察覺；辨別

注意到不明顯或隱藏的事物

to become aware of something that is hard to see, hear, or notice because it is not obvious or is intentionally kept from view.

例句

Eliska detected a hint of sadness in her friend's voice during the phone call.

Eliska 在電話中察覺到朋友語氣裡帶有一絲悲傷。

detect + emotion in voice/speech

In the old photograph, the detective detected a small figure standing near the back door.

在那張舊照片中，偵探辨別出後門附近站著一個小小的身影。

同義詞
  • notice

    more general and everyday; does not imply the thing was hidden

  • spot

    emphasises seeing something in a visual field; more informal

  • discern

    more formal and literary; suggests effort in perceiving

  • perceive

    broader, including mental awareness; more formal

反義詞
  • miss

    to fail to notice something

  • overlook

    to not see something because you are not paying enough attention

文法句型

detect + noun phrase

detect + that-clause

detect + wh-clause

用法筆記

This sense focuses on becoming aware of subtle cues — a tone of voice, a faint smell, a small change in appearance. The subject is usually a person, but the object is always something non-obvious.

常見錯誤

❌I detected that he was not telling the truth.
✅I detected a slight hesitation in his voice that suggested he was not telling the truth.
💡'detect' works for picking up a specific subtle sign, not for a general suspicion or conclusion.

2. to find or identify the presence of something by using technical devices, sensor

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

探測；檢測

用儀器或科學方法發現存在

to find or identify the presence of something by using technical devices, sensors, or laboratory procedures.

例句

The hospital's new scanner can detect tumours at a very early stage.

醫院的新掃描儀能在非常早期階段偵測到腫瘤。

detect + medical condition with scanner

Scientists detected traces of heavy metals in the river water near the factory.

科學家在工廠附近的河水中檢測到重金屬的痕跡。

同義詞
  • pick up

    more informal; often used for signals, sounds, or smells

  • sense

    broader, can refer to both human perception and machine reading

  • identify

    focuses on naming what has been found rather than just finding it

文法句型

detect + noun phrase

be detected + prepositional phrase

can/could detect + noun phrase

用法筆記

Very common in passive constructions and with 'can/could' to describe what a device or system is capable of finding. The subject is typically a machine, instrument, or scientist, and the object is a measurable substance, signal, or phenomenon.

常見錯誤

❌The mechanic detected what was wrong with the car.
✅The mechanic found what was wrong with the car.
💡'detect' is about discovering the presence of something, not diagnosing a known problem.
❌I detected a cheap price online.
✅I found a cheap price online.
💡'detect' is not used for routine discoveries like finding a bargain.