# device

Pronunciation: say "di-VYS" /dɪˈvaɪs/

## Noun

1. A piece of equipment, especially a mechanical or electrical one, built to do a particular job.
   - Simple: A thing made to do a particular job, often using machinery or electricity.
   - _Surgeons rely on a small device to monitor the patient's heart rate._
   - _Modern kitchens are full of electrical devices._
2. A piece of computer hardware, especially one connected to a main computer as a peripheral.
   - Simple: A piece of computer hardware, like a printer, mouse, or hard drive.
   - _The operating system installs a driver whenever a new device is attached._
   - _Storage devices like external drives connect through a single cable._
3. A technique an author or speaker uses to achieve a particular effect, such as emphasis, suspense, or an emotional response.
   - Simple: A method a writer or speaker uses to create a particular effect on readers or listeners.
   - _The author's favorite device is a sudden shift to the present tense at moments of crisis._
   - _Cliffhangers are among the oldest narrative devices for holding an audience._
4. A bomb, especially a home-made one built from improvised materials; an improvised explosive device.
   - Simple: A bomb, especially a home-made one put together from whatever materials are available.
   - _Engineers were called in to defuse a device planted under the bridge._
   - _Insurgents concealed crude devices along the supply route._
5. A scheme or plan, frequently meant to deceive others; a stratagem or piece of trickery.
   - Simple: A clever plan or trick, often made to fool someone.
   - _The whole charade was a device to lure his rival into the open._
   - _Politicians resorted to all manner of devices to delay the vote._
6. An emblem, design, or motto that serves as one bearer's personal mark, or an image used as a trademark or a sign of official authority.
   - Simple: A picture, sign, or motto that is one person's own mark, or a picture used as a company's logo.
   - _The earl's device, a golden falcon, appeared on every seal he used._
   - _Heralds recorded the devices borne by each tournament competitor._

## Noun

7. The faculty of devising things; inventiveness or ingenuity in contrivance. *(archaic)*
   - Simple: The power to invent or think up clever plans.
8. An elaborate spectacle, show, or staged entertainment mounted for an audience. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: A show or grand display put on for people to watch.
9. A person's opinion, judgment, or settled decision on a matter. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: What someone has decided or thinks about a matter.

## Other meanings

- (noun) A particular class of wordplay element used to build a cryptic crossword clue, such as an anagram, hidden word, or homophone.

## Origin

It comes from Middle English "devis" or "devise," from Old French "devis" and "devise," which trace back to Latin "dīvīsus," the past participle of "dīvidō" ("to divide"). It is a doublet of the noun "devise."

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/device (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).