device

(dĭ-vīs')
n.

1. A contrivance or an invention serving a particular purpose, especially a machine used to perform one or more relatively simple tasks.
2. 1. A technique or means.
   2. 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.

idiom:

leave to (one's) own devices

1. 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 dīvīsus, dīvīsa, past participle of dīvidere, to divide, separate. See divide.]

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(1) Hardware. The term refers to any electronic or electromechanical machine or component from a transistor to a disk drive to a smartphone. Device always refers to hardware, never to software. However, a "device driver" refers to software written to activate (to drive) a specific hardware device (see driver).

(2) In semiconductor design, a device is an active component, such as a transistor or diode, in contrast to a passive component, such as a resistor or capacitor.

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noun

1. Something, as a machine, devised for a particular function: apparatus, appliance, contraption, contrivance. See machine.
2. Something invented: brainchild, contrivance, invention. See machine, make/unmake.
3. An indirect, usually cunning means of gaining an end: artifice, deception, dodge, feint, gimmick, imposture, jig, maneuver, ploy, ruse, sleight, stratagem, subterfuge, trick, wile. Informal shenanigan, take-in. See honest/dishonest, means.
4. An element or a component in a decorative composition: design, figure, motif, motive, pattern. See part/whole.

device, an all‐purpose term used to describe any literary technique deliberately employed to achieve a specific effect. In the theories of Russian Formalism and Brechtian theatre, the phrase ‘baring the device’ refers to the way that some works expose or highlight the means (linguistic or theatrical) by which they operate on us, rather than conceal them. See also foregrounding, metadrama.

In an electric system, a component that is intended to carry, but not consume, electric energy, e.g., a switch.

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IN BRIEF: A piece of equipment to serve a special purpose.

The drill is a handy device to have around the house.

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For a list of words related to device, see:

• Machinery and Mechanical Devices - device: mechanical contrivance used for specific purpose
• Devices, Techniques, and Elements - device: word pattern, figure of speech, or dramatic convention used to evoke desired effect in literary work
• Strategy and Tactics - device: stratagem or trick, esp. method of deception

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  See crossword solutions for the clue Device.

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Common misspelling(s) of device

• divice

Dansk (Danish)
n. - apparat, mekanisme, bombe, påfund, strategi, skjoldmærke, mønster, figur, tegning, form

idioms:

• device driver    enhedsdriver, device driver

Nederlands (Dutch)
apparaat(je), instrument/toestel, (hulp)middel, truc, devies, wens, tekening, wapenbeeld

Français (French)
n. - appareil, engin, mécanisme, (Comput) dispositif, unité physique, formule (d'un projet), truc, moyen (de faire), devise, emblème, engin (explosif)

idioms:

• device driver    (Comput) relais d'un ordinateur à un périphérique

Deutsch (German)
n. - Gerät, Vorrichtung, Trick, Devise, Zeichnung

idioms:

• device driver    Gerätetreiber

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - επινόημα, τέχνασμα, στρατήγημα, κόλπο, συσκευή, μηχανισμός, έμβλημα, οικόσημο

idioms:

• device driver    (Η/Υ) οδηγός συσκευής

Italiano (Italian)
dispositivo, motto

idioms:

• leave to his own devices    lasciar libero di agire

Português (Portuguese)
n. - dispositivo (m), esquema (f), invenção (f)

idioms:

• leave to his own devices    deixar alguém fazer o que quiser/puder

Русский (Russian)
устройство, прием, девиз

idioms:

• leave to his own devices    предоставить самому себе

Español (Spanish)
n. - aparato, dispositivo, mecanismo, emblema, lema, truco, maqueta

idioms:

• device driver    comando de relevo de una computadora a un periférico

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - plan, påhitt, apparat, emblem, devis

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
装置, 图案, 设计

idioms:

• device driver    设备驱动程序, 设备驱动器

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 裝置, 圖案, 設計

idioms:

• device driver    設備驅動程式, 設備驅動器

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 고안 장치, 방법, 도안

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 装置, 工夫, 商標

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) شئ صنع لغرض أو هدف معين, أداة, جز من آله‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮מכשיר, סמל, ציור, מיתקן, תוכנית, תחבולה‬

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