/di tek"sheuhn/ , n.
1. the act of detecting.
2. the fact of being detected.
3. discovery, as of error or crime: chance detection of smuggling.
4. Telecommunications.
a. rectification of alternating signal currents in a radio receiver.
b. Also called demodulation . the conversion of an alternating, modulated carrier wave or current into a direct, pulsating current equivalent to the transmitted information-bearing signal.
[ 1425-75; late ME detection- (s. of detectio ), equiv. to L detect ( us ) (see DETECT) + -ion- -ION ]