Meaning & use
sensor
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
A device that notices a physical condition such as light, heat, or movement and sends a signal about it.
Grammar: Countable: a sensor, two sensors.
Patterns
- a sensor detects something
- a sensor is attached to something
- a sensor sends a signal
The door has a motion sensor that turns on the light when someone walks in.
A temperature sensor in the oven helps keep the heat steady.
The car's parking sensors beep when you get too close to something.
Word forms
| plural | sensors |
|---|
Common combinations
- motion sensor
- The security light uses a motion sensor.
- temperature sensor
- The thermometer contains a small temperature sensor.
- pressure sensor
- The tire pressure sensor warned us about a flat.
- sensor detects
- The sensor detects smoke and sounds an alarm.
Synonyms and how they differ
- detector
- Detector is often used for devices that find something specific, like a metal detector, while sensor is broader and often part of a larger system.
Word family
Commonly confused: sensor or censor?
sensor vs censor
Censor means to examine and remove parts of something, while sensor is a device that detects. They sound similar but have no connection.
Practice
The security system uses a ___ to detect movement in the room.
Choose one answer.
The correct word is 'sensor', a device that detects. 'Censor' is a verb meaning to remove content, and the other spellings are incorrect.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “sensor”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.