transitive verb

1. to catch or discover, as in a misdeed
2. to discover or manage to perceive (something hidden or not easily noticed) to detect a flaw in an argument
3. Radio
   1. rectify (sense )
   2. demodulate
4. Obsolete to uncover; reveal

Etymology: ME detecten < L detectus, pp. of detegere, to uncover < de-, from + tegere, to cover: see thatch