<p><strong>noun</strong></p><ul><li>a member of the police force or a private investigator whose function is to obtain information and evidence, as of offenses against the law.</li><li>one of a body of armed guards who patrol a region.</li><li>(initial capital letter) a U.S. soldier in World War II specially trained for making surprise raids and attacks in small groups.</li><li>a soldier specially trained in the techniques of guerrilla warfare, especially in jungle terrain.</li><li>a person who ranges or roves.</li><li>(especially in Texas) a member of the state police.</li><li>British. a keeper of a royal forest or park.</li><li>a keeper of a royal forest or park.</li><li>(initial capital letter) one of a series of instrumented U.S. space probes launched in the 1960s that transmitted closeup pictures of the moon before impacting the lunar surface.</li></ul><p><strong>adjective</strong></p><ul><li>of or relating to detection or detectives: a detective story.</li><li>serving to detect; detecting: various detective devices.</li></ul>