détectent

Detectent is the third-person plural present indicative form of the French verb détecter. It corresponds to "they detect" in English and is used when the subject of the sentence is plural. The verb décter means to discover the existence or presence of something, typically through observation, measurement, or instrumentation. It is widely used in everyday language as well as in scientific, technological, medical, and security contexts.

Etymology and form: Détecter derives from Latin detegere, meaning “to uncover, reveal,” through Old French detecter and later standard French. Détecter is a regular -er verb, so its conjugation follows the typical pattern: je détecte, tu détectes, il détecte, nous détectons, vous détectez, ils détectent. The form détectent is the standard plural present; the final -ent is the regular third-person plural ending, which is not pronounced as a separate syllable in standard French.

Usage: Détectent can describe sensors, instruments, or people identifying the presence of something. It is common in technical writing and journalism, as well as in everyday speech. Near-synonyms include découvrir, repérer, identifier, and déceler, each carrying slightly different nuances.

Examples:

- Les capteurs détectent des mouvements même faibles.

- Les médecins détectent des signes précoces de la maladie.

- Les autorités détectent des tentatives de fraude.

See also: détecter, détection, déceler, identification.