To uncover; lay bare; expose; show.To discover; find out; ascertain the existence, presence, or fact of: as, to detect an error in an account; to detect the presence of arsenic.To find out the action or character of; discover a fault or wrong in; unveil, as a person: as, to detect a man in the act of cheating; to detect a hypocrite.To reveal the guilt or alleged guilt of; inform against; complain of; accuse.Synonyms To find, ascertain, descry, make out, ferret out, penetrate.