- detective, investigator, tec, police detective - a police officer who investigates crimes
--1 is a kind of policeman, police officer, officer
--1 has particulars: dick, gumshoe, hawkshaw; plainclothesman; tracer - detective - an investigator engaged or employed in obtaining information not easily available to the public
--2 is a kind of investigator
--2 has particulars:private detective, PI, private eye, private investigator, operative, shamus, sherlock; sleuth, sleuthhound