tools - definition of tools by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.

tool (t

1. A device, such as a saw, used to perform or facilitate manual or mechanical work.

a. A machine, such as a lathe, used to cut and shape machine parts or other objects.

b. The cutting part of such a machine.

3. Something regarded as necessary to the carrying out of one's occupation or profession: Words are the tools of our trade.

4. Something used in the performance of an operation; an instrument: "Modern democracies have the fiscal and monetary tools . . . to end chronic slumps and galloping inflations" Paul A. Samuelson.

5. Vulgar Slang A penis.

6. A person used to carry out the designs of another; a dupe.

a. A bookbinder's hand stamp.

b. A design impressed on a book cover by such a stamp.

8. Computer Science An application program, often one that creates, manipulates, modifies, or analyzes other programs.

v. tooled, tool·ing, tools

v.tr.

1. To form, work, or decorate with a tool.

2. To ornament (a book cover) with a bookbinder's tool.

3. Slang To drive (a vehicle): tooled the car at 80 miles an hour.

v.intr.

1. To work with a tool.

2. Slang To drive or ride in a vehicle: tooled up and down the roads.

Phrasal Verb:

tool up

To provide an industry or a factory with machinery and tools suitable for a particular job.

[Middle English, from Old English tl, possibly from Old Norse.]

Synonyms: tool, instrument, implement, utensil, appliance
These nouns refer to devices used in the performance of work. Tool applies broadly to a device that facilitates work; specifically it denotes a small manually operated device: a box full of tools for bike repair.
Instrument refers especially to a relatively small precision tool used by trained professionals: sterilized the scalpel and the other instruments.
Implement is the preferred term for tools used in agriculture and certain building trades: rakes, hoes, and other implements.
Utensil often refers to an implement used in a household, especially in the kitchen: cooking utensils hung by the stove.
Appliance most frequently denotes a power-driven device that performs a specific function: a store selling toasters and other appliances.

tool

Noun

a. an implement, such as a hammer, saw, or spade, that is used by hand to help do a particular type of work

b. a power-driven instrument: machine tool

2. the cutting part of such an instrument

3. a person used to perform dishonourable or unpleasant tasks for another: the government is acting as a tool of big business

4. any object, skill, etc., used for a particular task or in a particular job: a skilled therapist can use photographs as tools

Verb

to work, cut, or form (something) with a tool [Old English tōl]

ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

Noun	1.	tool - an implement used in the practice of a vocation abrader, abradant - a tool or machine used for wearing down or smoothing or polishing bender - a tool for bending; "he used pliers as a bender" clincher - a tool used to clinch nails or bolts or rivets comb - any of several tools for straightening fibers cutting implement - a tool used for cutting or slicing drill - a tool with a sharp point and cutting edges for making holes in hard materials (usually rotating rapidly or by repeated blows) eolith - a crude stone artifact (as a chipped flint); possibly the earliest tools fork - an agricultural tool used for lifting or digging; has a handle and metal prongs gang - tool consisting of a combination of implements arranged to work together garden tool, lawn tool - used for working in gardens or yards grapnel, grapple, grappling hook, grappling iron, grappler - a tool consisting of several hooks for grasping and holding; often thrown with a rope hack - a tool (as a hoe or pick or mattock) used for breaking up the surface of the soil hand tool - a tool used with workers' hands hoe - a tool with a flat blade attached at right angles to a long handle implement - instrumentation (a piece of equipment or tool) used to effect an end jack - tool for exerting pressure or lifting Jaws of Life - hydraulic tool inserted into a wrecked vehicle and used to pry the wreckage apart in order to provide access to people trapped inside neolith - a stone tool from the Neolithic Age paleolith - a stone tool from the Paleolithic age pestle, pounder, muller - a heavy tool of stone or iron (usually with a flat base and a handle) that is used to grind and mix material (as grain or drugs or pigments) against a slab of stone plow, plough - a farm tool having one or more heavy blades to break the soil and cut a furrow prior to sowing power tool - a tool driven by a motor punch, puncher - a tool for making holes or indentations rake - a long-handled tool with a row of teeth at its head; used to move leaves or loosen soil ram - a tool for driving or forcing something by impact rounder - a tool for rounding corners or edges saw set - a tool used to bend each alternate sawtooth at a slight angle outward shaping tool - a tool for shaping metal strickle - a tool used in a foundry to shape a mold in sand stylus, style - a pointed tool for writing or drawing or engraving; "he drew the design on the stencil with a steel stylus" tamp, tamper, tamping bar - a tool for tamping (e.g., for tamping tobacco into a pipe bowl or a charge into a drill hole etc.) tap - a tool for cutting female (internal) screw threads swage, upset - a tool used to thicken or spread metal (the end of a bar or a rivet etc.) by forging or hammering or swaging
	2.	tool - the means whereby some act is accomplished; "my greed was the instrument of my destruction"; "science has given us new tools to fight disease" instrument means, way, agency - how a result is obtained or an end is achieved; "a means of control"; "an example is the best agency of instruction"; "the true way to success"
	3.	tool - a person who is controlled by others and is used to perform unpleasant or dishonest tasks for someone else puppet, creature slave - a person who is owned by someone
	4.	tool - obscene terms for penis cock, pecker, peter, dick, putz, prick, shaft penis, phallus, member - the male organ of copulation (`member' is a euphemism) dirty word, vulgarism, obscenity, smut, filth - an offensive or indecent word or phrase
Verb	1.	tool - drive; "The convertible tooled down the street" drive - operate or control a vehicle; "drive a car or bus"; "Can you drive this four-wheel truck?" joyride, tool around, tool - ride in a car with no particular goal and just for the pleasure of it; "We tooled down the street"
	2.	tool - ride in a car with no particular goal and just for the pleasure of it; "We tooled down the street" joyride, tool around driving - the act of controlling and steering the movement of a vehicle or animal ride - be carried or travel on or in a vehicle; "I ride to work in a bus"; "He rides the subway downtown every day" tool - drive; "The convertible tooled down the street"
	3.	tool - furnish with tools furnish, provide, supply, render - give something useful or necessary to; "We provided the room with an electrical heater"
	4.	tool - work with a tool work on, work, process - shape, form, or improve a material; "work stone into tools"; "process iron"; "work the metal"