Dictionary-Definition.com :: Device definition

Definition of 'device'

noun

An instrumentality invented for a particular purpose; "the device is small enough to wear on your wrist"; "a device intended to conserve water"

noun

Something in an artistic work designed to achieve a particular effect

noun

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" [syn: device, gimmick, twist]

noun

Any ornamental pattern or design (as in embroidery)

noun

An emblematic design (especially in heraldry); "he was recognized by the device on his shield"

Definition of 'Device'

From: GCIDE

Device \De*vice"\, n. [OE. devis, devise, will, intention, opinion, invention, fr. F. devis architect's plan and estimates (in OF., division, plan, wish), devise device (in sense 3), in OF. also, division, wish, last will, fr. deviser. See Devise, v. t., and cf. Devise, n.]
1. 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. [1913 Webster]
His device in against Babylon, to destroy it. --Jer. li. 11. [1913 Webster]
Their recent device of demanding benevolences. --Hallam. [1913 Webster]
He disappointeth the devices of the crafty. --Job v. 12. [1913 Webster]
2. Power of devising; invention; contrivance. [1913 Webster]
I must have instruments of my own device. --Landor. [1913 Webster]
3. (a) 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. (b) Improperly, an heraldic bearing. [1913 Webster]
Knights-errant used to distinguish themselves by devices on their shields. --Addison. [1913 Webster]
A banner with this strange device Excelsior. --Longfellow. [1913 Webster]
4. Anything fancifully conceived. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
5. A spectacle or show. [Obs.] --Beau. & Fl. [1913 Webster]
6. Opinion; decision. [Obs.] --Rom. of R.
7. any artifactual object designed to perform an action or process, with or without an operator in attendance. [PJC]
Syn: Contrivance; invention; design; scheme; project; stratagem; shift.
Usage: -- Device, Contrivance. Device implies more of inventive power, and contrivance more of skill and dexterity in execution. A device usually has reference to something worked out for exhibition or show; a contrivance usually respects the arrangement or disposition of things with reference to securing some end. Devices were worn by knights-errant on their shields; contrivances are generally used to promote the practical convenience of life. The word device is often used in a bad sense; as, a crafty device; contrivance is almost always used in a good sense; as, a useful contrivance. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'device'

From: Moby Thesaurus

ability,
achievement,
action,
ad hoc measure,
agency,
agent,
airborne controls,
alerion,
alibi,
alphabetic character,
alternator,
AM receiver,
AM tuner,
AM-FM receiver,
AM-FM tuner,
amplifier,
anagnorisis,
ancilla,
angle,
animal charge,
annulet,
anode,
answer,
apology,
apparatus,
appliance,
approach,
architectonics,
architecture,
argent,
argument,
armature,
armorial bearings,
armory,
arrangement,
art,
artful dodge,
artifice,
asiaticism,
atmosphere,
attack,
attribute,
auto radio,
autoclave,
autoconverter,
autograph,
automatic pilot,
automatic pistol,
automatic printer,
automatic sight,
automatic sprinkler,
automatic stop,
automatic telephone,
automaton,
autostarter,
autotransformer,
aviation radio,
azure,
background,
badge,
bag of tricks,
bandeau,
banner,
bar,
bar sinister,
baton,
battery charger,
battery radio,
bearings,
behind-the-scenes influence,
bend,
bend sinister,
billet,
blazon,
blazonry,
blind,
blueprint,
blueprinting,
bluff,
bordure,
bosey,
broad arrow,
broom,
brush,
cadency mark,
calculation,
calutron,
canton,
cap,
capacitor,
capacity,
capital,
carpet sweeper,
catastrophe,
catch,
catchword,
cathode,
CB,
chaplet,
character,
characteristic,
characterization,
charge,
charger,
Charlie McCarthy,
charting,
chevron,
chicanery,
chief,
choking coil,
chouse,
christcross,
cipher,
citizens band,
cloak,
coat of arms,
cockatrice,
cognizance,
coil,
colophon,
color,
comb,
commutator,
compensator,
complication,
conception,
condenser,
conspiracy,
continuity,
contraption,
contrivance,
controller,
converter,
coronet,
countermark,
countermove,
countersign,
countersignature,
counterstamp,
coup,
coupling,
course of action,
cover,
cover story,
cover-up,
craft,
creation,
creature,
crescent,
crest,
cross,
cross moline,
crown,
crystal set,
currycomb,
curve,
curve-ball,
cute trick,
cutout,
cytoanalyzer,
deceit,
demarche,
denouement,
depth sounder,
design,
desire,
development,
devices,
diathermy machine,
dielectric heater,
dielectric preheater,
difference,
differencing,
differentia,
dingus,
dirty deal,
dirty trick,
dishcloth,
dishwasher,
disposable resources,
disposition,
distributor,
dodge,
doormat,
dummy,
dupe,
duster,
dustpan,
dynamo,
dynamotor,
eagle,
earmark,
effort,
electric eye,
electrocardiograph,
electrode,
electroencephalograph,
electrograph,
electron lens,
electron microscope,
electronic air filter,
electronic altimeter,
electronic battery,
electronic clock,
electronic computer,
electronic detector,
electronic drum,
electronic fuel gauge,
electronic heater,
electronic nutcracker,
electronic oscillator,
electronic refrigerator,
electronic timer,
electronic typewriter,
electrophorus,
electrophotometer,
electroscope,
emblem,
endorsement,
enterprise,
envisagement,
epigraph,
episode,
epithet,
ermine,
ermines,
erminites,
erminois,
escutcheon,
euphuism,
excuse,
expedient,
expedients,
fable,
facade,
facecloth,
fakement,
falcon,
falling action,
fancy,
fast deal,
Fathometer,
feint,
fess,
fess point,
fetch,
ficelle,
field,
figurative language,
figurativeness,
figure,
figure of speech,
figuring,
file,
flanch,
fleur-de-lis,
Flexowriter typewriter,
floridity,
flourish,
flower,
flowery style,
foresight,
forethought,
fret,
front,
funds,
fur,
fuse,
fusil,
gadget,
galvanic pile,
galvanoscope,
gambit,
game,
garland,
Geiger counter,
generator,
gimcrack,
gimmick,
gizmo,
gloss,
go-between,
going between,
googly,
graph,
grapheme,
graphing,
grid,
griffin,
grift,
ground,
ground plan,
guided missile,
guidelines,
guise,
gules,
gyron,
gyroscopic pilot,
hackle,
hairbrush,
hallmark,
hand,
hand tool,
handkerchief,
handle,
handmaid,
handmaiden,
hatchment,
hearing aid,
helmet,
heraldic device,
hickey,
high-frequency heater,
hocus-pocus,
holystone,
honor point,
hose,
idea,
idiosyncrasy,
ignition,
image,
image dissector,
imagery,
impalement,
impaling,
implement,
improvisation,
incident,
inclination,
index,
indicant,
indicator,
induction heater,
inductor,
inescutcheon,
influence,
infrared cooker,
infrared telescope,
initials,
inscription,
insignia,
instrument,
instrumentality,
insulator,
intention,
interagent,
intermediary,
intermediate,
intermediation,
intermedium,
interrupter,
intrigue,
invention,
isotron,
John Hancock,
joker,
juggle,
jugglery,
jumper,
jury-rig,
jury-rigged expedient,
keynote,
knavery,
label,
lame excuse,
last expedient,
last resort,
last shift,
layout,
legend,
letter,
lever,
lever pilot,
lexigraphic character,
lie detector,
lightning rod,
line,
lineup,
lion,
little game,
local color,
locus standi,
logo,
logotype,
long-range plan,
lozenge,
machination,
machine,
machinery,
magnet,
magnetic recorder,
magneto,
magnetoscope,
makeshift,
maneuver,
maneuvering,
maneuvers,
manipulation,
manner of speaking,
mantling,
mapping,
mark,
mark of signature,
marshaling,
martlet,
mascle,
mask,
mass spectrograph,
mass spectrometer,
mass spectroscope,
master plan,
means,
measure,
mechanical device,
mechanical heart,
mechanism,
mediation,
mediator,
medium,
metal,
method,
methodology,
midwife,
minion,
monogram,
mood,
mop,
motif,
motive,
motor-generator,
motto,
move,
movement,
mullet,
multiplex receiver,
mythos,
napkin,
neon light,
neon tube,
nombril point,
nonliterality,
nonliteralness,
note,
octofoil,
operations research,
or,
ordinary,
organ,
organization,
orle,
ornament,
oscillator,
oscillograph,
oscilloscope,
ostensible motive,
outlet,
pacemaker,
pale,
paly,
pass,
pattern,
pawn,
pean,
peculiarity,
peripeteia,
pheon,
phonetic character,
phonetic symbol,
photoelectric counter,
photoelectric recorder,
photoelectric sorter,
photoflash bulb,
pictographic character,
picture,
pile,
pis aller,
plan,
planning,
planning function,
play,
plaything,
pleasure,
plot,
ploy,
plug,
pocket,
pocket radio,
points,
political influence,
polygraph,
poor excuse,
power,
power tool,
preamplifier,
prearrangement,
precision tool,
pretense,
pretension,
pretext,
procedure,
program,
program of action,
property,
protestation,
public motive,
pumice stone,
puppet,
purple passage,
purpure,
push button,
put-off,
quarter,
quartering,
racket,
radar,
radar controls,
radio,
radio direction finder,
radio telescope,
radio-frequency heater,
radio-record player,
radiophone,
radiosonde,
railroad radio,
rake,
rationalization,
RDF,
reactor,
receiver,
receptacle,
recognition,
recourse,
recourses,
rectifier,
red herring,
refuge,
regenerative receiver,
relay,
relay receiver,
representation,
representative,
resistance box,
resistor,
resort,
resorts,
resource,
resources,
rheostat,
rising action,
robot pilot,
robot plane,
robot submarine,
rose,
ruse,
sable,
saltire,
schedule,
schema,
schematism,
schematization,
scheme,
scheme of arrangement,
scraper,
screen,
scrub brush,
scrubber,
scurvy trick,
scutcheon,
seal,
secondary plot,
self-starter,
selsyn,
semblance,
servant,
service,
serviette,
setup,
shake-up,
sham,
shield,
shift,
ship-to-shore radio,
show,
shunt,
sigil,
sign,
sign manual,
signal,
signature,
signet,
slant,
slave,
sleight,
sleight of hand,
sleight-of-hand trick,
slogan,
smoke screen,
socket,
solution,
sonar,
spark coil,
spark plug,
spectrophotometer,
speed tool,
speedometer,
sponge,
spread eagle,
stalking-horse,
stamp,
starter,
step,
step-down transformer,
stereo,
stock,
stooge,
stopgap,
story,
stratagem,
strategic plan,
strategy,
stroke,
stroke of policy,
structure,
subject,
subordinary,
subplot,
subscription,
subterfuge,
sudarium,
superheterodyne,
supply,
sure sign,
swab,
switch,
syllabic,
symbol,
symptom,
synchronous converter,
system,
systematization,
table radio,
tactic,
tactical maneuvers,
tactical plan,
tactics,
tag line,
tap,
telltale sign,
temporary expedient,
tenne,
terminal,
the big picture,
the picture,
thematic development,
theme,
thermal timing relay,
thingumajig,
time switch,
time-delay relay,
timer,
tincture,
toggle switch,
tone,
tool,
toothbrush,
toothpick,
topic,
torse,
towel,
toy,
trait,
transceiver,
transformer,
transmit-receiver,
tressure,
trick,
trickery,
trickle charger,
trope,
trump,
tuner,
turn of expression,
twist,
type,
unicorn,
utensil,
vacuum cleaner,
vair,
varnish,
vehicle,
veil,
vert,
visa,
vise,
voltage changer,
voltage regulator,
voltage transformer,
walkie-talkie,
washboard,
washer,
washing machine,
watcher,
watchword,
way,
way of speaking,
ways,
ways and means,
weapon,
wherewith,
wherewithal,
whim,
whisk,
widget,
wile,
will,
wily device,
wire-pulling,
wisp,
working hypothesis,
working plan,
working proposition,
wreath,
wringer,
writing,
written character,
X,
X-ray microscope,
yale

'Device' definitions:

Definition of 'device'

Definition of 'Device'

Synonyms of 'device'

Words containing 'Device'