Definition of "metal detector" []

• A device that senses the presence of metal, especially: (noun)
• A hand-held unit used in searching an area for coins or other metal objects. (noun)
• A gatelike structure through which a person passes, used in detecting concealed weapons such as guns and knives. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Zoe Lang flicked him a glance and thrust the metal detector into his arms."
• "The guard behind the metal detector tells us that arraignments are handled by Judge Barreiro on the third floor, and with a beefy, heavily tattooed arm, he points us to the elevator."
• "He knew that she'd had to pass through a metal detector even to get into the waiting area of the city jail, so there was no weapon in the purse she tossed on the floor of the Boxster's passenger side."