sensor

sensor — noun

1. an electronic component that detects physical conditions such as light, heat, mo

1.nounB1
Definition

an electronic component that detects physical conditions such as light, heat, motion, or pressure, and produces a signal or triggers an action in response.

Example

A motion sensor in the hallway turns on the lights when Selim walks past.

collocation: motion sensor

Meera placed a temperature sensor in the living room to monitor heat from the fireplace.

collocation: temperature sensor

Common collocations
  • motion sensor
  • temperature sensor
  • pressure sensor
  • light sensor
  • smoke sensor
  • heart-rate sensor
  • proximity sensor
  • infrared sensor
  • sensor data
  • sensor reading
  • sensor technology
Synonyms
  • detector

    Broader in scope; often used for specific substances (smoke detector, metal detector) rather than physical conditions.

  • gauge

    Measures the magnitude or level of a specific property (fuel gauge, pressure gauge) rather than detecting presence or change.

  • probe

    A sensor that is inserted directly into a system or substance to collect data; implies close contact.

Grammar Patterns

sensor + for + [what is detected]

sensor + that + [detection clause]

[noun] + sensor (compound noun)

Usage Note

The noun specifying what the sensor detects usually comes directly before the word 'sensor' in a compound structure, e.g. motion sensor, light sensor, pressure sensor, or smoke sensor.

Common Mistakes

The sensor is too sensible.
The sensor is too sensitive.
'sensible' means 'practical or reasonable'; 'sensitive' means 'able to detect very small changes.'

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three words refer to devices that gather information about the physical world, but they differ in what kind of information they collect and how they are used. A detector searches for the presence or absence of a specific substance or event (a smoke detector looks for smoke particles; a metal detector looks for metal objects). A gauge measures the amount or level of something that is already present, like fuel in a tank or air pressure in a tire. A probe is inserted directly into a system — for example, a temperature probe pushed into a piece of meat while cooking. A sensor is the most general of the four: it can detect presence, measure levels, or respond to any physical stimulus, and it usually converts what it senses into an electrical signal for a machine or computer to process.

detector ↗gauge ↗probe ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • sensor network
  • sensor data
  • sensor reading
  • sensor technology
  • sensor array

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

The word 'sensor' comes from the Latin verb 'sentire', meaning 'to feel' or 'to perceive'. It entered English in the early 19th century as a technical term for devices that detect physical stimuli. The '-or' suffix marks the device as an agent that performs the action — in this case, 'a thing that senses'. The word was formed by analogy with existing agent nouns like 'motor' and 'conductor'.