detective


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Related to detective: Detective stories

de·tec·tive

 (dĭ-tĕk′tĭv)
n.
A person, usually a member of a police force, who investigates crimes and obtains evidence or information.
adj.
1. Of or relating to detectives or their work: detective novels.
2. Suited for or used in detection.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

detective

(dɪˈtɛktɪv)
n
(Professions)
a. a police officer who investigates crimes
c. (as modifier): a detective story.
adj
1. used in or serving for detection
2. serving to detect
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

de•tec•tive

(dɪˈtɛk tɪv)

n.
1. a police officer or a private investigator whose function is to obtain information and evidence, as of illegal activity.
adj.
2. of or pertaining to detection or detectives.
[1830–40]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.detective - a police officer who investigates crimesdetective - a police officer who investigates crimes
gumshoe, hawkshaw - someone who is a detective
plainclothesman - a detective who wears civilian clothes on duty
police officer, policeman, officer - a member of a police force; "it was an accident, officer"
tracer - an investigator who is employed to find missing persons or missing goods
2.detective - an investigator engaged or employed in obtaining information not easily available to the public
investigator - someone who investigates
private detective, private eye, private investigator, shamus, sherlock, operative, PI - someone who can be employed as a detective to collect information
sleuth, sleuthhound - a detective who follows a trail
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

detective

noun investigator, cop (slang), copper (slang), dick (slang, chiefly U.S.), constable, tec (slang), private eye, sleuth (informal), private investigator, gumshoe (U.S. slang), bizzy (slang), C.I.D. man Detectives are appealing for witnesses.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

detective

noun
A person whose work is investigating crimes or obtaining hidden evidence or information:
Informal: eye.
Slang: dick, gumshoe.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
مُخْبِرمُخْبِر، بوليس سِرّي
detektiv
detektivkriminalassistentopdager
etsivä
detektiv
leyni-/rannsóknarlögreglumaîur
刑事探偵
탐정
detektív
detektiv
kriminalare
นักสืบ
thám tử

detective

[dɪˈtektɪv]
A. Ndetective mf
private detectivedetective mf privado/a
B. CPD detective chief inspector N (Brit) → comisario m
detective chief superintendent N (Brit) → comisario/a m/f jefe
detective constable N (Brit) → agente mf (de policía)
detective inspector N (Brit) → inspector(a) m/f (de policía)
detective sergeant N (Brit) → oficial mf de policía
detective story Nnovela f policíaca
detective superintendent N (Brit) → comisario/a m/f (de policía)
detective work N (fig) → trabajo m detectivesco, trabajo m de investigación
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

detective

[dɪˈtɛktɪv] nagent m de police, policier m
Detective Nardosa → inspecteur Nardosa detective inspector, detective constable, detective sergeantdetective constable n (British)enquêteur/euse m/fdetective inspector n (British)inspecteur/trice m/f (de police) principal(e), capitaine mf de policedetective novel nroman m policierdetective sergeant n (British)inspecteur/trice m/f de police, lieutenant mf de policedetective story nroman m policierdetective work ninvestigations fpl
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

detective

nDetektiv(in) m(f); (= police detective)Kriminalbeamte(r) m/-beamtin f

detective

:
detective agency
nDetektivbüro nt, → Detektei f
detective chief inspector
n (Brit) → Kriminaloberinspektor(in) m(f)
detective chief superintendent
n (Brit) → Kriminalhauptkommissar(in) m(f)
detective constable
n (Brit) → Kriminalbeamte(r) m/-beamtin f
detective inspector
nKriminalinspektor(in) m(f)
detective sergeant
nKriminalmeister(in) m(f)
detective story
nKriminalgeschichte f, → Kriminalroman m, → Krimi m (inf)
detective superintendent
n (Brit) → Kriminalkommissar(in) m(f)
detective work
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

detective

[dɪˈtɛktɪv] ninvestigatore/trice; (private detective) → investigatore/trice privato/a
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

detect

(diˈtekt) verb
to notice or discover. She thought she could detect a smell of gas.
deˈtective (-tiv) noun
a person who tries to find criminals or watches suspected persons. She was questioned by detectives.
detentiondetain
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.

detective

مُخْبِر detektiv detektiv Kriminalbeamter ιδιωτικός αστυνομικός detective etsivä détective detektiv investigatore 刑事 탐정 detective detektiv detektyw detetive сыщик kriminalare นักสืบ dedektif thám tử 侦探
Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
References in classic literature ?
"Can you give me any idea," the detective asked, "as to the source?"
"Your suggestions," the detective said, "are making this case a very interesting one.
A DETECTIVE searching for the murderer of a dead man was accosted by a Clew.
"It is better sometimes to wait," the detective said quietly.
I am going to the Head Office; and I have got a letter of introduction to the chief inspector in the detective department.
Something about that flight of steps up to the shop, something about the quietude and quaintness of the restaurant, roused all the detective's rare romantic fancy and made him resolve to strike at random.
"It's the Baker Street division of the detective police force," said my companion, gravely; and as he spoke there rushed into the room half a dozen of the dirtiest and most ragged street Arabs that ever I clapped eyes on.
It might convince an examining magistrate or the head of a detective department, but it's not proof.
I am sorry, real sorry--for your sake; because, when it gets around that a detective has expressed himself confidently, and then--"
"A detective. They were traced down from town a few days ago.
The two detectives strode away, Summerhaye with an incredulous grin on his face.
Skilful detectives have been sent to all the principal ports of America and the Continent, and he'll be a clever fellow if he slips through their fingers."

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