de·vice (d -v s )n. Idiom: 1. A contrivance or an invention serving a particular purpose, especially a machine used to perform one or more relatively simple tasks. 2. a. A technique or means. b. A plan or scheme, especially a malign one. 3. A literary contrivance, such as parallelism or personification, used to achieve a particular effect. 4. A decorative design, figure, or pattern, as one used in embroidery. See Synonyms at figure. 5. A graphic symbol or motto, especially in heraldry. 6. Archaic The act, state, or power of devising. leave to (one's) own devices To allow to do as one pleases: left the child to her own devices for an hour in the afternoon. [Middle English, from Old French devis, division, wish, and Old French devise, design, both from Latin d vsus, dvsa, past participle of dvidere, to divide, separate; see divide.] |
device
Noun
1. a machine or tool used for a particular purpose
2. Euphemistic a bomb
3. a scheme or plan
4. a design or emblem
5. leave someone to his or her own devices to leave someone alone to do as he or she wishes [Old French devis contrivance + devise intention]
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  device - an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose; "the device is small enough to wear on your wrist"; "a device intended to conserve water"acoustic device - a device for amplifying or transmitting sound adaptor, adapter - device that enables something to be used in a way different from that for which it was intended or makes different pieces of apparatus compatible afterburner - a device injects fuel into a hot exhaust for extra thrust agglomerator - a device that causes material to gather into rounded balls; "a sonic agglomerator" aerofoil, airfoil, control surface, surface - a device that provides reactive force when in motion relative to the surrounding air; can lift or control a plane in flight alarm system, warning device, alarm - a device that signals the occurrence of some undesirable event appliance, contraption, contrivance, gadget, gismo, gizmo, widget, convenience - a device or control that is very useful for a particular job applicator, applier - a device for applying a substance aspergill, aspersorium - a short-handled device with a globe containing a sponge; used for sprinkling holy water robot pilot, automatic pilot, autopilot - a navigational device that automatically keeps ships or planes or spacecraft on a steady course bait, decoy, lure - something used to lure fish or other animals into danger so they can be trapped or killed billiard marker - a device for keeping the score in a game of billiards blower - a device that produces a current of air bootjack - has V-shaped notch for pulling off boots breathalyser, breathalyzer - a device that measures chemicals (especially the alcohol content) in a person's expired breath breathing apparatus, breathing device, breathing machine, ventilator - a device that facilitates breathing in cases of respiratory failure bubbler - any of various devices in which air or some other gas is bubbled through a liquid battery charger, charger - a device for charging or recharging batteries clip-on - a device (as an earring, sunglasses, microphone etc.) that is attached by clips comb - a flat device with narrow pointed teeth on one edge; disentangles or arranges hair conductor - a device designed to transmit electricity, heat, etc. birth control device, contraceptive, contraceptive device, prophylactic device, preventative, preventive - an agent or device intended to prevent conception corer - a device for removing the core from apples corrective, restorative - a device for treating injury or disease crusher - a device that crushes something cryptograph - a device for deciphering codes and ciphers cutoff - a device that terminates the flow in a pipe dampener, moistener - a device that dampens or moistens something; "he used a dampener to moisten the shirts before he ironed them" damper, muffler - a device that decreases the amplitude of electronic, mechanical, acoustical, or aerodynamic oscillations deflector - a device intended to turn aside the flow of something (water or air or smoke etc) dental appliance - a device to repair teeth or replace missing teeth depressor - a device used by physician to press a part down or aside detector, sensing element, sensor - any device that receives a signal or stimulus (as heat or pressure or light or motion etc.) and responds to it in a distinctive manner |
| 2. | device - something in an artistic work designed to achieve a particular effect expressive style, style - a way of expressing something (in language or art or music etc.) that is characteristic of a particular person or group of people or period; "all the reporters were expected to adopt the style of the newspaper" conceit - an artistic device or effect; "the architect's brilliant conceit was to build the house around the tree" rhetorical device - a use of language that creates a literary effect (but often without regard for literal significance) | |
| 3. | device - any clever maneuver; "he would stoop to any device to win a point"; "it was a great sales gimmick"; "a cheap promotions gimmick for greedy businessmen" mnemonic - a device (such as a rhyme or acronym) used to aid recall | |
| 4. | device - any ornamental pattern or design (as in embroidery) | |
| 5. | device - an emblematic design (especially in heraldry); "he was recognized by the device on his shield" emblem - special design or visual object representing a quality, type, group, etc. union - a device on a national flag emblematic of the union of two or more sovereignties (typically in the upper inner corner) heraldry - the study and classification of armorial bearings and the tracing of genealogies |
device
noun 1. gadget, machine, tool, instrument, implement, invention, appliance, apparatus, gimmick, utensil, contraption, contrivance, waldo, gizmo or gismo (slang), chiefly U.S., Canad.
Translations
device [dɪˈvaɪs] n (= scheme) → estratagema, recurso (= apparatus); aparato, mecanismo (= explosive device); artefacto explosivo
n device [diˈvais]
1 something made for a purpose, eg a tool or instrument a device for opening cans. toestel جِهاز، أداه، آلَه апарат nástroj, přístroj mekanisme; apparat das Gerät συσκευή aparato seadis اسباب؛ ابزار laite appareil מַכשִׁיר उपकरण naprava, instrument eszköz alat tæki, útbúnaður congegno 考案物 도구, 장치 prietaisas ierīce alat apparaat apparat, innretning, anordning, hjelperåd przyrząd instrumento aparat; mecanism; dispozitiv приспособление nástroj naprava uređaj anordning, apparat อุปกรณ์ alet, cihaz, araç 裝置，器件 прилад; механізм کسی خاص مقصد کے لۓ وضع کیا ہوا آلہ thiết bị; dụng cụ 装置，器件
2 a plan or system of doing something, sometimes involving trickery This is a device for avoiding income tax. middel, metode خِطَّه، حيلَه хитрина trik, plán plan; strategi der Kniff τέχνασμα mecanismo, truco, estratagema võte نقشه؛ ترفند keino truc תַּחבּוּלָה लेखन शैली plan megoldás cara aðferð; kænskubragð stratagemma 工夫 계획, 책략, 방법 būdas, priemonė plāns; projekts; triks helah middel, truc påfunn, list sposób processo truc способ trik sredstvo način påhitt, knep กลไก düzen, hile 手段 прийом, спосіб کوئی خاکہ یا تدبیر phương sách 手段
device , unlike advice , can be used in the plural: ingenious devices .
devise is a verb: to devise a scheme .
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