[di-tek-tiv] 
| 1. | a member of the police force or a private investigator whose function is to obtain information and evidence, as of offenses against the law. |
| 2. | of or pertaining to detection or detectives: a detective story. |
| 3. | serving to detect; detecting: various detective devices. |
| de·tec·tive (dĭ-těk'tĭv) n. A person, usually a member of a police force, who investigates crimes and obtains evidence or information. adj.
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