Discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of:
— She detected high levels of lead in her drinking water.

synonyms: discover, find, notice, observe.

Roget 480a: discover, find, determine, evolve, learn etc. 539; fix upon; pick up; find out, trace out, make out, hunt out, fish out, worm out, ferret out, root out; fathom; bring out, draw out; educe, elicit, bring to light; dig out, grub up, fish up; unearth, disinter.    solve, resolve, elucidate; unriddle, unravel, unlock, crack, crack open; pick up, open the lock; find a clue, find clew a to, find the key to the riddle; interpret etc. 522; disclose etc. 529.    trace, get at; hit it, have it; lay one's finger, lay one's hands upon; spot; get at the truth, arrive at the truth etc. 494; put the saddle on the right horse, hit the right nail on the head.    be near the truth, be warm, get warmer, burn; smoke, scent, sniff, catch a whiff of, smell a rat.    open the eyes to; see through, see daylight, see in its true colors, see the cloven foot; detect; catch, catch tripping.    pitch upon, fall upon, light upon, hit upon, stumble upon, pop upon; come across, come onto; meet with, meet up with, fall in with.    recognize, realize; verify, make certain of, identify.    ... show more

Dutch: opsporen, detecteren, ontdekken, vinden