tool

SayTOOLUS/tul//tuːl/

15 meanings of tool

1
nouncountable
An object or device you use to do a job, such as a hammer or saw.
Dad keeps every tool in a big red box in the garage.
You need the right tools to fix a bike.
UsageSay a tool for a job: the right tool for the job.
Similarimplement, instrument, device, utensil
2
help (any kind)nouncountable
Anything that helps a person get a job done, even an idea or a skill.
Reading is a powerful tool for learning new things.
Kind words are tools for making people feel better.
UsageSay a tool for learning or a tool for solving problems.
Similarinstrument, means, vehicle, device
Note
3
softwarenouncountable
A computer program that helps people build other programs or do special computer jobs.
Like a hammer or a saw, but for building things inside a computer.
She used a free tool to check her website for broken links.
Programmers download many small tools to help them write code.
Similarutility, program
Note

Less common meanings

4
puppetnouncountable
A person who is used by others to get what they want, often without knowing it.
Like a puppet that moves when someone else pulls the strings.
The spies made him their tool without him ever knowing.
She refused to be a tool in her boss's plan.
UsageSay a tool of someone. Without of, it sounds like an insult.
Similarpawn, puppet, stooge, instrument, dupe
Note
5
jerknounslangderogatoryvulgarcountable
A rude word for someone who is annoying and thinks they are better than everyone.
Everyone at school thinks the new coach is a total tool.
Stop acting like a tool and say sorry to her.
UsagePeople say such a tool. Do not use it at work.
Similarasshole, bastard, butthead, berk, blackguard
Note
6
decorate by handverbtransitive
To shape or decorate something with tools, like making patterns in leather.
Workers tool the leather belts by hand in a small shop.
She tooled a flower design into the wallet.
UsageYou often see hand-tooled leather.
Similarstamp, emboss, work
7
penisnounvulgarcolloquialcountable
A rude slang word for a man's penis.
The drunk guy made a joke about his tool, and everyone groaned.
Someone drew a man's tool on the bathroom wall.
Similarcock, dick, chopper
Note
8
equipverbtransitive
To give a factory or worker the machines and equipment needed for a job.
The company will tool the new plant to build trucks.
They tooled the workshop with modern machines last year.
UsageOften tool up: the factory tooled up to make trucks.
Similarequip, outfit, fit
9
put downverbslangtransitive
To make someone look bad in a quiet way so you can get what you want from them.
Don't tool me in front of everyone just to get a laugh.
She tooled her teammate during the meeting to make her own idea look better.
Similarundermine, exploit
Note
10
work hardverbslangUSintransitive
To work very hard for a long time.
I had to tool all weekend to finish my science project.
We tooled in the library until it closed at midnight.
Similartoil, slave, labor, slog
Note
11
gunnoundialectalCanadaMulticultural London EnglishUScountable
A small gun that a person can hold and fire with one hand.
The police found a tool with six bullets in it under his bed.
Put that tool away before somebody gets shot.
Similarweapon, arm
Note
12
ride aroundverbslangintransitive
To ride or drive around in a car or other vehicle.
We tooled around town all afternoon with the windows down.
Let's tool down to the beach this weekend.
UsageSay tool around town or tool along the road.
Similarcruise, drive, ride
Note
13
verbdatedUKtransitive
To drive a coach or other vehicle, or to take people or things somewhere in it.
Grandfather could tool a coach through the busiest streets without a scratch.
The young driver tooled the cart down the lane to the market.
Similardrive
Note
14
noun
One of the main skills a baseball player needs, like hitting or running fast.
15
verb
In volleyball, to hit the ball on purpose so it bounces off a blocker's hands and lands out of bounds.

Practice

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Origin

It comes from Old English tōl, meaning a tool or instrument. It goes back to an old Germanic word and may have been borrowed from Old Norse.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Tool derives from Old English tōl, meaning a tool or instrument. en.wiktionary.org
The word ultimately has a Germanic ancestor. en.wiktionary.org
Borrowing from Old Norse is a proposed possibility. en.wiktionary.org