detective
pronunciation
How to pronounce detective in British English:
UK [dɪˈtektɪv]
How to pronounce detective in American English:
US [dɪˈtektɪv]
-
- Noun:
- a police officer who investigates crimes
- an investigator engaged or employed in obtaining information not easily available to the public
Word Origin
- detective (n.)
- 1850, short for detective police, from detective (adj.), 1843; see detect + -ive.
Example
- 1. Dr. raeburn lit his next cigarette like a detective .
- 2. Both sides can play this game of detective .
- 3. How often does a detective story upend history ?
- 4. The detective shouted to a plainclothes officer in a cubicle nearby .
- 5. The chief accepted thecompliments of the british detective .