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tool

 
Dictionary: tool   (tūl) pronunciation
 
n.
  1. A device, such as a saw, used to perform or facilitate manual or mechanical work.
    1. A machine, such as a lathe, used to cut and shape machine parts or other objects.
    2. The cutting part of such a machine.
  2. Something regarded as necessary to the carrying out of one's occupation or profession: Words are the tools of our trade.
  3. 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).
  4. Vulgar Slang. A penis.
  5. A person used to carry out the designs of another; a dupe.
    1. A bookbinder's hand stamp.
    2. A design impressed on a book cover by such a stamp.
  6. 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

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

[Middle English, from Old English tōl, 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.


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Thesaurus: tool
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noun

  1. A device used to do work or perform a task: implement, instrument, utensil. See machine, means.
  2. A person used or controlled by others: cat's-paw, dupe, instrument, pawn2, puppet, stooge. See over/under.

verb

    To run and control (a motor vehicle): drive, motor, pilot, wheel. See move/halt.

 
Hacker Slang: tool
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1. n.A program used primarily to create, manipulate, modify, or analyze other programs, such as a compiler or an editor or a cross-referencing program. Oppose app, operating system; see also toolchain.

2. [Unix] An application program with a simple, ‘transparent’ (typically text-stream) interface designed specifically to be used in programmed combination with other tools (see filter, plumbing).

3. [MIT: general to students there] vi. To work; to study (connotes tedium). The TMRC Dictionary defined this as “to set one's brain to the grindstone”. See hack.

4. n. [MIT] A student who studies too much and hacks too little. (MIT's student humor magazine rejoices in the name Tool and Die.)


 
Word Tutor: tool
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pronunciation

IN BRIEF: A thing made to help people do work.

pronunciation He had every tool needed to build a table.

 
Dream Symbol: Tools
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Beyond the phallic connotations, tools in a dream can represent our practical abilities. Different specific tools represent different things, such as "hammering" someone or throwing a "monkey wrench" into something. Also might be alluding to the meaning of certain idioms, such as "tools of the trade." If one works regularly with tools, then tools in a dream could just be a reflection of daily life.


 
Wikipedia: Tool
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Knives were some of the first tools developed by mankind.

A broad definition of a tool is an entity used to interface between two or more domains that facilitates more effective action of one domain upon the other. The most basic tools are simple machines. For example, a crowbar simply functions as a lever. The further out from the pivot point, the more force is transmitted along the lever. A hammer typically interfaces between the operator's hand and the nail the operator wishes to strike.

Tools are the most important items that the ancient humans used to climb to the top of the food chain; by inventing tools, they were able to accomplish tasks that their bodies could not, such as using a spear or bow and arrow to kill prey, since their teeth were not sharp enough to pierce many animals' skins.

A telephone is a communication tool that interfaces between two people engaged in conversation at one level. And between each user and the communication network at another. It is in the domain of media and communications technology that a counterintuitive aspect of our relationships with our tools first began to gain popular recognition. Marshall McLuhan famously said "We shape our tools. And then our tools shape us." McLuhan was referring to the fact that our social practices co-evolve with our use of new tools and the refinements we make to existing tools.

Tools that have evolved for use in particular domains can be given different assignations. For example, tools designed for domestic use are often called utensils.

Observation has confirmed that that multiple species can use tools, including monkeys, apes, several birds, sea otters, and others. Philosophers originally thought that only humans had the ability to make tools, until zoologists observed birds[1] and monkeys[2][3][4] making tools. Now humans' unique relationship to tools is considered to be that we are the only species that uses tools to make other tools.[citation needed]

Most anthropologists believe that the use of tools was an important step in the evolution of mankind.[5] Humans evolved an opposable thumb — useful in holding tools — and increased dramatically in intelligence, which aided in the use of tools.[6]

Contents

Functions

Protective gear items are not considered tools, because they do not directly help perform work, just protect the worker like ordinary clothing. Personal protective equipment includes such items as gloves, safety glasses, ear defenders and biohazard suits.

Tool substitution

Often, by design or coincidence, a tool may share key functional attributes with one or more other tools. In this case, some tools can substitute for other tools, either as a make-shift solution or as a matter of practical efficiency. "One tool does it all" is a motto of some importance for workers who cannot practically carry every specialized tool to the location of every work task. Tool substitution may be divided broadly into two classes: substitution "by-design", or "multi-purpose" use, and substitution as make-shift. In many cases, the designed secondary functions of tools are not widely known. As an example of the former, many wood-cutting hand saws integrate a carpenter's square by incorporating a specially shaped handle which allows 90° and 45° angles to be marked by aligning the appropriate part of the handle with an edge and scribing along the back edge of the saw. The latter is illustrated by the saying "All tools can be used as hammers." Nearly all tools can be re purposed to function as a hammer, even though very few tools are intentionally designed for it.

Multi-use tools

  • A multitool is a hand tool that incorporates several tools into a single, portable device.
  • Lineman's pliers incorporate a gripper and cutter, and are often used secondarily as a hammer.
  • Hand saws often incorporate the functionality of the carpenter's square in the right-angle between the blade's dull edge and the saw's handle.

History

Because tools are used extensively by both humans and wild chimpanzees, it is widely assumed that the first routine use of tools took place prior to the divergence between the two species.[7] These early tools, however, were likely made of perishable materials such as sticks, or consisted of unmodified stones that cannot be distinguished from other stones as tools. The beginning of the Stone Age marks the era when hominins first began manufacturing stone tools, and evidence of these tools dates back at least 2.6 million years in Ethiopia.[8] The transition from stone to metal tools roughly coincided with the development of agriculture around the 4th millennium BC.

Mechanical devices experienced a major expansion in their use in the Middle Ages with the systematic employment of new energy sources: water (waterwheels) and wind (windmills).

Machine tools occasioned a surge in producing new tools in the industrial revolution. Advocates of nanotechnology expect a similar surge as tools become microscopic in size.[9][10]

See also

References

  1. ^ Selection of tool diameter by New Caledonian crows Corvus moneduloides, Jackie Chappell and Alex Kacelnik November 29, 2003
  2. ^ The Throwing Madonna: Essays on the Brain, William H. Calvin
  3. ^ Scientific American Frontiers, Program#1504 "Chimp Minds" transcript PBS.org Airdate Feb 9, 2005
  4. ^ "Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure: Chimpanzee". http://www.rollinghillswildlife.com/animals/c/chimpanzee/. 
  5. ^ Sam Lilley, Men, Machines and History: The Story of Tools and Machines in Relation to Social Progress, 1948 Cobbett Press.
  6. ^ Primates and Their Adaptations, 2001, M.J. Farabee. Retrieved on November 6, 2006.
  7. ^ Whiten, A., J. Goodall, W. C. McGrew, T. Nishida, V. Reynolds, Y. Sugiyama, C. E. G. Tutin, R. W. Wrangham, and C. Boesch. 1999. Cultures in Chimpanzees. Nature 399:682-685. Panger, M. A., A. S. Brooks, B. G. Richmond, and B. Wood. 2002. Older than the Oldowan? Rethinking the emergence of hominin tool use. Evolutionary Anthropology: Issues, News, and Reviews 11:235-245.
  8. ^ Semaw, S., M. J. Rogers, J. Quade, P. R. Renne, R. F. Butler, M. Domínguez-Rodrigo, D. Stout, W. S. Hart, T. Pickering, and S. W. Simpson. 2003. 2.6-Million-year-old stone tools and associated bones from OGS-6 and OGS-7, Gona, Afar, Ethiopia. Journal of Human Evolution 45:169-177.
  9. ^ Nanotechnology: Big Potential In Tiny Particles, David Whelan. Retrieved on November 6, 2006
  10. ^ Will this Tiny Science Usher in the Next Industrial Revolution?, Katrina C. Arabe. Retrieved on November 6, 2006

 
Translations: Tool
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Dansk (Danish)
n. - værktøj, redskab
v. tr. - bearbejde
v. intr. - arbejde med værktøj, forsyne med værktøj, køre stille og roligt i bil

idioms:

  • down tools    nedlægge arbejdet, strejke
  • the tools of the trade    fagets værktøjer
  • tool along    køre afslappet
  • tool box    værktøjskasse
  • tool kit    værktøj, værktøjskasse
  • tool up    skaffe værktøj til

Nederlands (Dutch)
(stuk) gereedschap, instrument, (hulp)middel, marionet, een werktuig hanteren, bewerken, van gereedschap voorzien

Français (French)
n. - (gén, Comput) outil, instrument, (fig) instrument (péj), pénis
v. tr. - travailler, repousser (le cuir)
v. intr. - (Aut) rouler tranquillement/pépère

idioms:

  • down tools    (GB) se mettre en grève, arrêter de travailler
  • the tools of the trade    les outils du métier
  • tool along    (Aut) rouler tranquillement
  • tool box    boîte à outils
  • tool kit    trousse à outils
  • tool up    s'équiper (pour faire), équiper

Deutsch (German)
n. - Gerät, Werkzeug, Rüstzeug, Werkzeugmaschine, Drehmeißel, (Präge)stempel, (Slang) Penis
v. - fahren, mit einem Werkzeug bearbeiten, prägen

idioms:

  • down tools    die Arbeit unterbrechen, die Arbeit niederlegen
  • the tools of the trade    Rüstzeug (zur Ausübung des Berufs)
  • tool along    ein Fahrzeug fahren
  • tool box    Werkzeugkasten
  • tool kit    Werkzeugsatz, Werkzeug
  • tool up    die nötigen Maschinen aufstellen

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - εργαλείο, όργανο, μέσο, (μτφ.) ενεργούμενο, πιόνι, (χυδ.) πέος
v. - επεξεργάζομαι ή διαμορφώνω (με εργαλείο), χαράσσω σχέδιο σε δερμάτινο κάλυμμα βιβλίου, εφοδιάζω ή εξοπλίζω με μέσα παραγωγής

idioms:

  • down tools    κάνω στάση εργασίας
  • the tools of the trade    τα σύνεργα της δουλειάς
  • tool along    (αργκό) ρολάρω, οδηγώ αυτοκίνητο αργά
  • tool box    εργαλειοθήκη
  • tool kit    σειρά εργαλείων, εργαλειοθήκη
  • tool up    εξοπλίζω/-ομαι με μηχανήματα και εργαλεία

Italiano (Italian)
strumento

idioms:

  • down tools    scioperare
  • the tools of the trade    le armi del mestiere
  • tool box    portautensili
  • tool kit    portautensili

Português (Portuguese)
n. - ferramenta (f), instrumento (m)
v. - trabalhar com ferramentas, guiar

idioms:

  • down tools    entrar em greve (Brit.) (fig.)
  • the tools of the trade    ossos do ofício
  • tool along    devagar com carro
  • tool box    caixa de ferramentas
  • tool kit    jogo de ferramentas
  • tool up    providenciar uma fábrica com ferramentas

Русский (Russian)
инструмент, техн. приспособление для производства/работы, (перен.) средство для достижения какой-либо цели, средство, марионетка, мужской половой орган

idioms:

  • down tools    бастовать, прекращать работу
  • the tools of the trade    орудие труда
  • tool along    (разг.) везти кого-л., ехать
  • tool box    ящик для инструментов
  • tool kit    набор инструментов
  • tool up    приобрести оборудование, оснаститься

Español (Spanish)
n. - herramienta, utensilio, útil, instrumento
v. tr. - labrar o trabajar con herramientas, relevar, proveer de herramientas o utillaje, guiar, llevar un vehículo
v. intr. - pasear en vehículo, labrar o trabajar con herramientas, relevar

idioms:

  • down tools    declararse en huelga
  • the tools of the trade    herramientas de trabajo
  • tool along    dirigirse o pasear en coche
  • tool box    caja de herramientas
  • tool kit    juego de herramientas
  • tool up    instalar maquinaria diseñada para realizar un trabajo específico

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - verktyg, hjälpmedel, redskap, instrument
v. - bearbeta, forma, köra (vard.)

中文(简体)(Chinese (Simplified))
工具, 用具, 器具, 机床, 器械, 方法, 手段, 用工具加工, 使用设备, 使用工具

idioms:

  • down tools    静坐
  • the tools of the trade    做生意的工具, 谋生器具
  • tool along    慢速行驶
  • tool box    工具箱
  • tool kit    成套工具
  • tool up    用机械设备装置, 为新产品生产提供所需的机械设备

中文(繁體)(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 工具, 用具, 器具, 機床, 器械, 方法, 手段
v. tr. - 用工具加工, 使用設備
v. intr. - 使用工具

idioms:

  • down tools    靜坐
  • the tools of the trade    做生意的工具, 謀生器具
  • tool along    慢速行駛
  • tool box    工具箱
  • tool kit    成套工具
  • tool up    用機械設備裝置, 為新產品生產提供所需的機械設備

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 연장, 날 부분, 수단
v. tr. - 연장으로 세공하다, 압형하다, 기구를 설비하다
v. intr. - 연장으로 세공하다, (마차로)가다, 기계를 설비하다

idioms:

  • the tools of the trade    장사도구, 장사밑천
  • tool along    차로 천천히 가다
  • tool up    (공장 등에) 기구 등을 설비하다

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 道具, 手段, 手先
v. - 道具で細工する, 押し型で模様を押す, 車で行く

idioms:

  • down tools    ストライキをする
  • tool along    ゆっくり走らせる
  • tool box    ツールボックス, 道具箱
  • tool kit    ツールキット, 工具セット
  • tool up    機械を備え付ける

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) وسيله, أداة (فعل) يصنع أو يزين بأداة, يقود سيارة, يسوق‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮מכשיר, כלי, כלי-עבודה, אמצעי, כלי-שרת, מכבש-הטבעה קטן, פין (מדוברת)‬
v. tr. - ‮עיצב, קישט, עיטר‬
v. intr. - ‮הטביע תרשים על כריכת ספר מעור‬


 
 
 

 

Copyrights:

Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Thesaurus. Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary Copyright © 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Hacker Slang. The Jargon File. Copyright © 2007.  Read more
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eSpindle provides personalized spelling and vocabulary tutoring online; free trial Read more
Dream Symbol. The Dreams Encyclopedia. 1995 ©Visible Ink Press. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Tool" Read more
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