device

English

Etymology

From Middle English devys, from Old French devis, from Latin dīvīsus, past participle of dīvidō (“to divide”).

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /dɪˈvaɪs/, /dəˈvaɪs/
  • Audio (US)(file)
  • Rhymes: -aɪs

Noun

device (plural devices)

  1. Any piece of equipment made for a particular purpose, especially a mechanical or electrical one.
    • 1949. Geneva Convention on Road Traffic Chapter VI. Provisions Applicable to Cycles in International Traffic
      Every cycle shall be equipped with: [...] (b) an audible warning device consisting of a bell [...]
    • 2013 June 1, “A better waterworks”, in The Economist‎, volume 407, number 8838, page 5 (Technology Quarterly):
      An artificial kidney these days still means a refrigerator-sized dialysis machine. Such devices mimic the way real kidneys cleanse blood and eject impurities and surplus water as urine.
  2. (computer hardware) A peripheral device; an item of hardware.
  3. A project or scheme, often designed to deceive; a stratagem; an artifice.
  4. (Ireland) An improvised explosive device, home-made bomb
    • 1979, Stiff Little Fingers, Suspect Device:
      Inflammable material is planted in my head / It's a suspect device that's left 2000 dead
    • 2014 September 3, Cliodhna Russell, “A viable device was found in Cavan today, it has now been made safe”, in The Journal:
      THE ARMY BOMB Disposal Team rendered safe a viable device in Cavan this afternoon.
    • 2014 August 3, Louise Kelly, Conor Feehan, “Suspect device found at shopping centre revealed as hoax”, in Irish Independent:
      The army bomb squad carried out two controlled explosions on the device. It was later found that the suspect device was a hoax and not a viable explosive.
  5. (rhetoric) A technique that an author or speaker uses to evoke an emotional response in the audience; a rhetorical device.
  6. (heraldry) A motto, emblem, or other mark used to distinguish the bearer from others. A device differs from a badge or cognizance primarily as it is a personal distinction, and not a badge borne by members of the same house successively.
  7. (archaic) Power of devising; invention; contrivance.
    • 1824, Walter Savage Landor, “King Henry IV and Sir Arnold Savage”, in Imaginary Conversations of Literary Men and Statesmen, page 44:
      Moreover I must have instruments of mine own device, weighty, and exceeding costly
    • 1976, The Eagles, Hotel California:
      And she said,
      "We are all prisoners here,
      Of our own device"
  8. (law) An image used in whole or in part as a trademark or service mark.
  9. (printing) An image or logo denoting official or proprietary authority or provenience.
    • 1943 United States Post Office Department. A Description of United States Postage Stamps / Issued by the Post Office Department from July 1, 1847, to April 1, 1945 [sic], USGPO, Washington, p1:
      Prior to the issuance of the first stamps, letters accepted by postmasters for dispatch were marked "Paid" by means of pen and ink or hand stamps of various designs. [...] To facilitate the handling of mail matter, some postmasters provided special stamps or devices for use on letters as evidence of the prepayment of postage.
  10. (obsolete) A spectacle or show.
  11. (obsolete) Opinion; decision.

Synonyms

Hyponyms

Derived terms

Translations
computing — see peripheral device
rhetoric: device — see rhetorical device

Slovene

Noun

device

  1. inflection of devica:
    1. genitive singular
    2. nominative/accusative plural
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