-ktə(r) noun
( -s )
Etymology: Late Latin, revealer, from Latin detectus + -or
: one that detects: as
a. : an arrangement in a lock designed to prevent forcing and to indicate any tampering
b. : an indicator showing the depth of the water in a boiler
c. : a device for indicating improper functioning or condition of a facility (as a railroad switch or signal) or to assure proper functioning
d. : a device for detecting the presence of electric waves or of radioactivity
e. radio
(1) : a device for determining the presence of a signal
(2) : a rectifier of high-frequency current (as a cat whisker and crystal or a vacuum tube)
(3) : a device for extracting the intelligence from a signal
(4) : demodulator 1