Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A contrivance or invention serving a particular purpose, especially a machine used to perform one or more relatively simple tasks.
- noun A literary contrivance, such as parallelism or personification, used to achieve a particular effect.
- noun A decorative design, figure, or pattern, as one used in embroidery. synonym: figure.
- noun A graphic symbol or motto, especially in heraldry.
- noun A plan or scheme for accomplishing something.
- idiom (leave to (one's) own devices) To allow (someone) to do as he or she pleases.
- idiom (leave to (one's) own devices) To force (someone) to cope or manage without assistance.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun Disposition; desire; will; pleasure.
- noun Opinion; view.
- noun The act or state of devising or inventing; invention; inventiveness; a contriving.
- noun An invention or a contrivance; something devised or fitted for a particular use or purpose, especially something of a simple character or of little complexity: as, a device for checking motion.
- noun A scheme or plan; something devised or studied out for promoting an end; specifically, something contrived for an evil or a selfish purpose; a wrongful project, stratagem, or trick.
- noun Something fancifully designed, as a picture, a, pattern, a piece of embroidery, the cut or ornament of a garment, etc.
- noun The representation of some object, group of objects, or scene, generally accompanied by a motto or other legend, and used as an expression of the bearer's aspirations or principles.
- noun The motto attached to or suited for such an emblem.
- noun A spectacle; a show.
- noun Synonyms Contrivance, Shift, etc. (see expedient, n.; see also
artifice ), wile, ruse, manœuver, trick. - noun Design, symbol.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun That which is devised, or formed by design; a contrivance; an invention; a project; a scheme; often, a scheme to deceive; a stratagem; an artifice.
- noun Power of devising; invention; contrivance.
- noun An emblematic design, generally consisting of one or more figures with a motto, used apart from heraldic bearings to denote the historical situation, the ambition, or the desire of the person adopting it. See
Cognizance . - noun Improperly, an heraldic bearing.
- noun Anything fancifully conceived.
- noun obsolete A spectacle or show.
- noun obsolete Opinion; decision.
- noun any artifactual object designed to perform an action or process, with or without an operator in attendance.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun Any piece of
equipment made for a particular purpose, especially a mechanical or electrical one. - noun A
project orscheme , often designed to deceive; astratagem ; anartifice . - noun rhetoric A technique that an author or speaker uses to evoke an emotional response in the audience; a
rhetorical device. - noun (heraldry) A
motto ,emblem , or other mark used to distinguish the bearer from others. A device differs from abadge orcognizance primarily because as it is a personal distinction, and not a badge borne by members of the same house successively. - noun archaic Power of
devising ; invention; contrivance. - noun law An image used in whole or in part as a
trademark or service mark. - noun printing An image or logo denoting official or proprietary authority or provenience.
- noun obsolete A spectacle or
show . - noun obsolete Opinion; decision.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose
- noun any clever maneuver
- noun something in an artistic work designed to achieve a particular effect
- noun any ornamental pattern or design (as in embroidery)
- noun an emblematic design (especially in heraldry)
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word device.
Examples
-
The first reviews of the device began rolling in Tuesday afternoon and they are largely glowing, despite some expected complaints about the device&# ...
-
However, separately backing up my Eudora and Palm data is a small inconvenience compared to the peace of mind this device brings †¦ especially on days when my laptop sounds like it†™ s laboring and may crash and burn at any minute. win a Clickfree HD801 device*?
Boston Mamas 2008
-
The other thing, Kate, that's interesting is we're not quite sure -- we're using the term device but we don't really know whether it was powders or liquids, or whatever the case was.
-
It's not that a combined multimedia device is a bad idea; it's that Sony thought people wanted that and that they would pay a premium for it.
So, PS3 Slim Is Officially Here... SVGL 2009
-
The locked-down nature of the device is a price that most people are more that happy to accept.
Cory Doctorow Shouldn’t Buy an iPad, but Maybe You Should « Steve Wildstrom on Tech 2010
-
She asks where the device is and Stefan tells her that Damon has it.
-
In true Snicket fashion, the device is a picture book cum police procedural, with a murder investigation functioning as plot.
The Composer Is Dead (Book & CD) by Lemony Snicket: Book summary 2010
-
Of course, if this device is a computer any mechanical watch or clock is, too.
-
Om might disagree with this, but take that keyboard and email from BB, the device is almost useless.
-
The most expensive part of the device is the screen, which costs about $60 and is manufactured by E Ink, iSuppli said.
reesetee commented on the word device
In rare/antique books, a printer's ornament or a publisher's identifying mark, usually on the copyright page of a book. Sometimes used interchangeably with colophon.
February 22, 2007