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# sensor

noun (a sensor, sensors)

«sensor» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A sensor is a device that notices something, such as light, heat, movement, sound or touch, and sends a signal about it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sensor/#m1)
2. (science) Living things have natural sensors too, like the eyes, ears and skin. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sensor/#m2)

### In the lessons

In science, computing and design lessons sensors are used with micro:bits and robots: a light sensor, a temperature sensor, a motion sensor, a sound sensor. In everyday life sensors are everywhere: automatic doors, smoke alarms, phone screens, car parking sensors, security lights and taps that turn on by themselves. In safety lessons, smoke and carbon monoxide sensors warn people of danger.

### Examples

- The automatic door has a sensor that sees you coming. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sensor/#x1)
- We used the micro:bit's light sensor to measure brightness. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sensor/#x2)
- The security light switched on when the motion sensor saw a cat. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sensor/#x3)
- Smoke alarms have a sensor that detects smoke. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sensor/#x4)
- The car's parking sensor beeped near the wall. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sensor/#x5)
- The robot used a touch sensor to stop at the wall. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sensor/#x6)
- Your skin is full of sensors for heat and pain. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sensor/#x7)

### Note

Plural «sensors». Spelling trap: «sensor» (a detector) and «censor» (a person who cuts or hides things from films, books or news) sound the same. A sensor detects; it does not decide — a program or brain decides what to do.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «sensor» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sensor/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«sensor» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/sensor.html) on Mova free.