v.
   - discover or identify the presence or existence of.
 - discover or investigate (a crime or its perpetrators).
 - discern (something intangible or barely perceptible).
 
 
  Derivative
  
    - detectable adj.
  - detectably adv.
  - detection n.
 
   
  Etymology
  ME: from L. detect-, detegere ‘uncover’ from de- (expressing reversal) + tegere ‘to cover’.