detective
∞
2.7
- noun
- /dɪˈtɛktɪv/
:
detective
- After much investigation, the detective was able to solve the mystery of the missing jewels.
- a police detective
- a private detective
- become a detective
I've never thought about someone like a detective texting me.
- I've never thought about someone like a detective texting me.
- I'm like, this is a detective that is as rich as it gets.
- So I have to play my dad playing a detective, right?
- So the detectives take one look at this situation.
- Number one thing, I'm talking to the two lead detectives in the case.
- I love Kent and Ernie Lively, who was my detective partner.
- Great, great detectives solve cold cases.
- And as you watch these branching narratives, you will, as the detective, resolve the murder.
- That's kind of why I think with Detective Pikachu, great fun movie.
Examples
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The Detective Unit is on the third floor.
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An inquisitive detective obsesses over the case.
-
And there was a detective then who followed me all the way along.
-
I got a call from a detective in Detroit.
-
It just so happens that the lead detective on this case.
-
Detective, how do you respond to these allegations?
-
I don't have anything to say, detective.
-
We're detectives, with the LAPD.
-
The Daily Telegraph reported on several investigations conducted by detectives in Italy and in Britain.
Academic text (2008) -
"There was a lot of blood," said Detective Sgt. Robert Lawlor.
Academic text (2011)
Synonyms
756
3.4
A police officer who looks into crimes to find evidence
201
7.3
A person who works as a secret agent or detective
64
3.7
A person hired to find facts about crimes or private matters who is not a police officer
30
3.4
A person who is not a police officer and is paid to investigate crimes
27
2.7
A police officer who investigates crimes and collects evidence
24
4.2
A person hired to find out information for someone, often about crimes
14
5.6
A person who investigates crimes and follows clues
13
3.7
A person hired to find missing people or information
5
8.4
A detective who works quietly and follows people to find facts
3
9.9
A police officer who investigates crimes and finds who did them
1
4.9
A person who works in a shop watching for people who steal and stopping them
1
6.5
A person hired by a hotel or store to watch for theft
A private detective hired to find information for people or businesses
A person who carefully follows clues to solve mysteries
A person who finds clues and figures things out
A person who works at a hotel to find thieves and keep guests safe
Compounds
5
3.3
A business that looks into problems and finds information for people or companies
- Literature
5
2.7
A story about a crime in which a detective tries to find who did it
1
4.9
A person who works in a shop watching for people who steal and stopping them
A police officer who wears ordinary clothes while working to avoid attention
How Skilled
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Detective comes from Latin parts de- 'away' and tegere 'to cover', the same root you see in protect. So a detective 'takes away the cover' to find what is hidden, which is why they search for clues and facts.