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1 N‑COUNT A detective is someone whose job is to discover what has happened in a crime or other situation and to find the people involved. Some detectives work in the police force and others work privately. □  Detectives are appealing for witnesses who may have seen anything suspicious. □  She hired a private detective in an attempt to find her daughter.

2 ADJ [ADJ n] A detective novel or story is one in which a detective tries to solve a crime.

de|tec|tor /d I te ktə ^r / (detectors ) N‑COUNT [oft n N ] A detector is an instrument which is used to discover that something is present somewhere, or to measure how much of something there is. □  …a metal detector. □  …fire alarms and smoke detectors.

de|tente /de I tɒ nt/ also détente N‑UNCOUNT [oft a N ] Detente is a state of friendly relations between two countries when previously there had been problems between them. [FORMAL ] □  …their desire to pursue a policy of detente.

de|ten|tion /d I te nʃ ^ə n/ (detentions )

1 N‑UNCOUNT Detention is when someone is arrested or put into prison, especially for political reasons. □  …the detention without trial of government critics.

2 N‑VAR Detention is a punishment for naughty schoolchildren, who are made to stay at school after the other children have gone home. □  The teacher kept the boys in detention after school.

de|te n|tion cen|tre (detention centres ) in AM, use detention center N‑COUNT A detention centre is a sort of prison, for example a place where people who have entered a country illegally are kept while a decision is made about what to do with them.

de|ter /d I tɜː ^r / (deters , deterring , deterred ) VERB To deter someone from doing something means to make them not want to do it or continue doing it. □ [V n + from ] Supporters of the death penalty argue that it would deter criminals from carrying guns. □ [V n] Arrests and jail sentences have done nothing to deter the protesters.

de|ter|gent /d I tɜː ^r dʒ ^ə nt/ (detergents ) N‑VAR Detergent is a chemical substance, usually in the form of a powder or liquid, which is used for washing things such as clothes or dishes.

de|terio|rate /d I t I ə riəre I t/ (deteriorates , deteriorating , deteriorated ) VERB If something deteriorates , it becomes worse in some way. □ [V ] There are fears that the situation might deteriorate into full-scale war. ●  de|terio|ra|tion /d I t I ə riəre I ʃ ^ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ in ] …concern about the rapid deterioration in relations between the two countries.

de|ter|mi|nant /d I tɜː ^r m I nənt/ (determinants ) N‑COUNT A determinant of something causes it to be of a particular kind or to happen in a particular way. [FORMAL ]

de|ter|mi|nate /d I tɜː ^r m I nət/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Determinate means fixed and definite. [FORMAL ] □  …a contract for the exclusive possession of land for some determinate period.

de|ter|mi|na|tion /d I tɜː ^r m I ne I ʃ ^ə n/

1 N‑UNCOUNT [oft N to-inf] Determination is the quality that you show when you have decided to do something and you will not let anything stop you. □  Everyone concerned acted with great courage and determination.

2 → see also determine

de|ter|mine ◆◆◇ /d I tɜː ^r m I n/ (determines , determining , determined )

1 VERB If a particular factor determines the nature of a thing or event, it causes it to be of a particular kind. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] The size of the chicken pieces will determine the cooking time. □ [V wh] What determines whether you are a career success or a failure? ●  de|ter|mi|na|tion N‑UNCOUNT □  …the gene which is responsible for male sex determination.