Device

4 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Device \De*vice"\, n. [OE. devis, devise, will, intention,
     opinion, invention, fr. F. devis architect's plan and
     estimates (in OF., division, plan, wish), devise device (in
     sense 3), in OF. also, division, wish, last will, fr.
     deviser. See {Devise}, v. t., and cf. {Devise}, n.]
     1. That which is devised, or formed by design; a contrivance;


        an invention; a project; a scheme; often, a scheme to
        deceive; a stratagem; an artifice.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              His device in against Babylon, to destroy it. --Jer.
                                                    li. 11.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Their recent device of demanding benevolences.
                                                    --Hallam.
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              He disappointeth the devices of the crafty. --Job v.
                                                    12.
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     2. Power of devising; invention; contrivance.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              I must have instruments of my own device. --Landor.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3.
        (a) An emblematic design, generally consisting of one or
            more figures with a motto, used apart from heraldic
            bearings to denote the historical situation, the
            ambition, or the desire of the person adopting it. See
            {Cognizance}.
        (b) Improperly, an heraldic bearing.
            [1913 Webster]
  
                  Knights-errant used to distinguish themselves by
                  devices on their shields.         --Addison.
            [1913 Webster]
  
                  A banner with this strange device 
                  Excelsior.                        --Longfellow.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     4. Anything fancifully conceived. --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     5. A spectacle or show. [Obs.] --Beau. & Fl.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     6. Opinion; decision. [Obs.] --Rom. of R.
  
     7. any artifactual object designed to perform an action or
        process, with or without an operator in attendance.
        [PJC]
  
     Syn: Contrivance; invention; design; scheme; project;
          stratagem; shift.
  
     Usage: -- {Device}, {Contrivance}. Device implies more of
            inventive power, and contrivance more of skill and
            dexterity in execution. A device usually has reference
            to something worked out for exhibition or show; a
            contrivance usually respects the arrangement or
            disposition of things with reference to securing some
            end. Devices were worn by knights-errant on their
            shields; contrivances are generally used to promote
            the practical convenience of life. The word device is
            often used in a bad sense; as, a crafty device;
            contrivance is almost always used in a good sense; as,
            a useful contrivance.
            [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  device
       n 1: an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose; "the
            device is small enough to wear on your wrist"; "a device
            intended to conserve water"
       2: something in an artistic work designed to achieve a
          particular effect
       3: any clever (deceptive) maneuver; "he would stoop to any
          device to win a point" [syn: {gimmick}, {twist}]
       4: any ornamental pattern or design (as in embroidery)
       5: an emblematic design (especially in heraldry); "he was
          recognized by the device on his shield"

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  728 Moby Thesaurus words for "device":
     AM receiver, AM tuner, AM-FM receiver, AM-FM tuner, CB,
     Charlie McCarthy, Fathometer, Flexowriter typewriter,
     Geiger counter, John Hancock, RDF, X, X-ray microscope, ability,
     achievement, action, ad hoc measure, agency, agent,
     airborne controls, alerion, alibi, alphabetic character,
     alternator, amplifier, anagnorisis, ancilla, angle, animal charge,
     annulet, anode, answer, apology, apparatus, appliance, approach,
     architectonics, architecture, argent, argument, armature,
     armorial bearings, armory, arrangement, art, artful dodge,
     artifice, asiaticism, atmosphere, attack, attribute, auto radio,
     autoclave, autoconverter, autograph, automatic pilot,
     automatic pistol, automatic printer, automatic sight,
     automatic sprinkler, automatic stop, automatic telephone,
     automaton, autostarter, autotransformer, aviation radio, azure,
     background, badge, bag of tricks, bandeau, banner, bar,
     bar sinister, baton, battery charger, battery radio, bearings,
     behind-the-scenes influence, bend, bend sinister, billet, blazon,
     blazonry, blind, blueprint, blueprinting, bluff, bordure, bosey,
     broad arrow, broom, brush, cadency mark, calculation, calutron,
     canton, cap, capacitor, capacity, capital, carpet sweeper,
     catastrophe, catch, catchword, cathode, chaplet, character,
     characteristic, characterization, charge, charger, charting,
     chevron, chicanery, chief, choking coil, chouse, christcross,
     cipher, citizens band, cloak, coat of arms, cockatrice, cognizance,
     coil, colophon, color, comb, commutator, compensator, complication,
     conception, condenser, conspiracy, continuity, contraption,
     contrivance, controller, converter, coronet, countermark,
     countermove, countersign, countersignature, counterstamp, coup,
     coupling, course of action, cover, cover story, cover-up, craft,
     creation, creature, crescent, crest, cross, cross moline, crown,
     crystal set, currycomb, curve, curve-ball, cute trick, cutout,
     cytoanalyzer, deceit, demarche, denouement, depth sounder, design,
     desire, development, devices, diathermy machine, dielectric heater,
     dielectric preheater, difference, differencing, differentia,
     dingus, dirty deal, dirty trick, dishcloth, dishwasher,
     disposable resources, disposition, distributor, dodge, doormat,
     dummy, dupe, duster, dustpan, dynamo, dynamotor, eagle, earmark,
     effort, electric eye, electrocardiograph, electrode,
     electroencephalograph, electrograph, electron lens,
     electron microscope, electronic air filter, electronic altimeter,
     electronic battery, electronic clock, electronic computer,
     electronic detector, electronic drum, electronic fuel gauge,
     electronic heater, electronic nutcracker, electronic oscillator,
     electronic refrigerator, electronic timer, electronic typewriter,
     electrophorus, electrophotometer, electroscope, emblem,
     endorsement, enterprise, envisagement, epigraph, episode, epithet,
     ermine, ermines, erminites, erminois, escutcheon, euphuism, excuse,
     expedient, expedients, fable, facade, facecloth, fakement, falcon,
     falling action, fancy, fast deal, feint, fess, fess point, fetch,
     ficelle, field, figurative language, figurativeness, figure,
     figure of speech, figuring, file, flanch, fleur-de-lis, floridity,
     flourish, flower, flowery style, foresight, forethought, fret,
     front, funds, fur, fuse, fusil, gadget, galvanic pile,
     galvanoscope, gambit, game, garland, generator, gimcrack, gimmick,
     gizmo, gloss, go-between, going between, googly, graph, grapheme,
     graphing, grid, griffin, grift, ground, ground plan,
     guided missile, guidelines, guise, gules, gyron, gyroscopic pilot,
     hackle, hairbrush, hallmark, hand, hand tool, handkerchief, handle,
     handmaid, handmaiden, hatchment, hearing aid, helmet,
     heraldic device, hickey, high-frequency heater, hocus-pocus,
     holystone, honor point, hose, idea, idiosyncrasy, ignition, image,
     image dissector, imagery, impalement, impaling, implement,
     improvisation, incident, inclination, index, indicant, indicator,
     induction heater, inductor, inescutcheon, influence,
     infrared cooker, infrared telescope, initials, inscription,
     insignia, instrument, instrumentality, insulator, intention,
     interagent, intermediary, intermediate, intermediation,
     intermedium, interrupter, intrigue, invention, isotron, joker,
     juggle, jugglery, jumper, jury-rig, jury-rigged expedient, keynote,
     knavery, label, lame excuse, last expedient, last resort,
     last shift, layout, legend, letter, lever, lever pilot,
     lexigraphic character, lie detector, lightning rod, line, lineup,
     lion, little game, local color, locus standi, logo, logotype,
     long-range plan, lozenge, machination, machine, machinery, magnet,
     magnetic recorder, magneto, magnetoscope, makeshift, maneuver,
     maneuvering, maneuvers, manipulation, manner of speaking, mantling,
     mapping, mark, mark of signature, marshaling, martlet, mascle,
     mask, mass spectrograph, mass spectrometer, mass spectroscope,
     master plan, means, measure, mechanical device, mechanical heart,
     mechanism, mediation, mediator, medium, metal, method, methodology,
     midwife, minion, monogram, mood, mop, motif, motive,
     motor-generator, motto, move, movement, mullet, multiplex receiver,
     mythos, napkin, neon light, neon tube, nombril point,
     nonliterality, nonliteralness, note, octofoil, operations research,
     or, ordinary, organ, organization, orle, ornament, oscillator,
     oscillograph, oscilloscope, ostensible motive, outlet, pacemaker,
     pale, paly, pass, pattern, pawn, pean, peculiarity, peripeteia,
     pheon, phonetic character, phonetic symbol, photoelectric counter,
     photoelectric recorder, photoelectric sorter, photoflash bulb,
     pictographic character, picture, pile, pis aller, plan, planning,
     planning function, play, plaything, pleasure, plot, ploy, plug,
     pocket, pocket radio, points, political influence, polygraph,
     poor excuse, power, power tool, preamplifier, prearrangement,
     precision tool, pretense, pretension, pretext, procedure, program,
     program of action, property, protestation, public motive,
     pumice stone, puppet, purple passage, purpure, push button,
     put-off, quarter, quartering, racket, radar, radar controls, radio,
     radio direction finder, radio telescope, radio-frequency heater,
     radio-record player, radiophone, radiosonde, railroad radio, rake,
     rationalization, reactor, receiver, receptacle, recognition,
     recourse, recourses, rectifier, red herring, refuge,
     regenerative receiver, relay, relay receiver, representation,
     representative, resistance box, resistor, resort, resorts,
     resource, resources, rheostat, rising action, robot pilot,
     robot plane, robot submarine, rose, ruse, sable, saltire, schedule,
     schema, schematism, schematization, scheme, scheme of arrangement,
     scraper, screen, scrub brush, scrubber, scurvy trick, scutcheon,
     seal, secondary plot, self-starter, selsyn, semblance, servant,
     service, serviette, setup, shake-up, sham, shield, shift,
     ship-to-shore radio, show, shunt, sigil, sign, sign manual, signal,
     signature, signet, slant, slave, sleight, sleight of hand,
     sleight-of-hand trick, slogan, smoke screen, socket, solution,
     sonar, spark coil, spark plug, spectrophotometer, speed tool,
     speedometer, sponge, spread eagle, stalking-horse, stamp, starter,
     step, step-down transformer, stereo, stock, stooge, stopgap, story,
     stratagem, strategic plan, strategy, stroke, stroke of policy,
     structure, subject, subordinary, subplot, subscription, subterfuge,
     sudarium, superheterodyne, supply, sure sign, swab, switch,
     syllabic, symbol, symptom, synchronous converter, system,
     systematization, table radio, tactic, tactical maneuvers,
     tactical plan, tactics, tag line, tap, telltale sign,
     temporary expedient, tenne, terminal, the big picture, the picture,
     thematic development, theme, thermal timing relay, thingumajig,
     time switch, time-delay relay, timer, tincture, toggle switch,
     tone, tool, toothbrush, toothpick, topic, torse, towel, toy, trait,
     transceiver, transformer, transmit-receiver, tressure, trick,
     trickery, trickle charger, trope, trump, tuner, turn of expression,
     twist, type, unicorn, utensil, vacuum cleaner, vair, varnish,
     vehicle, veil, vert, visa, vise, voltage changer,
     voltage regulator, voltage transformer, walkie-talkie, washboard,
     washer, washing machine, watcher, watchword, way, way of speaking,
     ways, ways and means, weapon, wherewith, wherewithal, whim, whisk,
     widget, wile, will, wily device, wire-pulling, wisp,
     working hypothesis, working plan, working proposition, wreath,
     wringer, writing, written character, yale
  
  

From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) [foldoc]:

  device
       
          {peripheral}