Standard Lemma guide

device

noun · 17 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /dɪˈvaɪs/
  • Canada, General-American: /dɪˈvaɪs/
  • [dɪˈvʌɪs] Canadian raising
  • /dəˈvaɪs/ weak vowel merger
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Australian: /dɪˈvɑɪs/
  • rhymes with -aɪs
  • CMU ARPABET: D IH0 V AY1 S Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Any piece of equipment made for a particular purpose, especially a mechanical or electrical one.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Near-synonyms: equipment, tool, machine
  • 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 ...

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: equipment, tool, machine

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A peripheral device; an item of hardware.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: computer-hardware, computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A project or scheme, often designed to deceive; a stratagem; an artifice. 1602, Shakespeare, The Merry Wives of Windsor. "This is our device,/ That Falstaff at that oak shall meet with us."

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

An improvised explosive device, home-made bomb

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Ireland

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

A technique that an author or speaker uses to evoke an emotional response in the audience; a rhetorical device.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: rhetoric

Examples

  • 1736. O'Callaghan, Edmund Bailey. The Documentary History of the State of New York Chapter I, Article III: Enumeration of the Indian Tribes. The devices of these savages are the serpent, the Deer, and the Small Acorn.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

A technique that an author or speaker uses to evoke an emotional response in the audience; a rhetorical device. (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.

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.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: rhetoric

Topics: government, heraldry, hobbies, lifestyle, monarchy, nobility, politics

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

Power of devising; invention; contrivance.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: archaic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

noun

Meaning 8

An image used in whole or in part as a trademark or service mark.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: law

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

noun

Meaning 9

An image or logo denoting official or proprietary authority or provenience.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: media, printing, publishing

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

noun

Meaning 10

Any specific class of wordplay element in a cryptic crossword.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Qualifier: crosswording

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

11

noun

Meaning 11

A spectacle or show.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

12

noun

Meaning 12

Opinion; decision.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

13

noun

Meaning 13

any clever maneuver

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he would stoop to any device to win a point
  • it was a great sales gimmick
  • a cheap promotions gimmick for greedy businessmen

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: gimmick, twist

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: maneuver, manoeuvre, tactical maneuver, tactical manoeuvre

Narrower terms: mnemonic, trick, fast one

14

noun

Meaning 14

an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the device is small enough to wear on your wrist
  • a device intended to conserve water

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: instrumentality, instrumentation

Narrower terms: acoustic device, adapter, adaptor, afterburner, agglomerator, airfoil, aerofoil, control surface, surface, alarm, warning device, alarm system, appliance, contraption, contrivance, convenience, gadget, gizmo, gismo, widget, applicator, applier, aspergill, aspersorium, autopilot, automatic pilot, robot pilot, bait, decoy, lure, billiard marker, bird feeder, birdfeeder, feeder, blower, bootjack, breathalyzer, breathalyser, breathing device, breathing apparatus, breathing machine, ventilator, bubbler, buffer, fender, catapult, launcher, charger, battery charger, clip-on, comb, comforter, pacifier, baby's dummy, teething ring, conductor, contraceptive, preventive, preventative, contraceptive device, prophylactic device, birth control device, converter, convertor, corer, corrective, restorative, crusher, cryptograph, cutoff, dampener, moistener, damper, muffler, deflector, dental appliance, depressor, detector, sensor, sensing element, diestock, drive, drop forge, drop hammer, drop press, elastic device, electrical device, electronic device, energizer, energiser, exercise device, explosive device, fan, filter, fire extinguisher, extinguisher, asphyxiator, flare, fumigator, gas fixture, groover, guard, safety, safety device, heater, warmer, heat exchanger, holding device, horn, hydrofoil, foil, imprint, indicator, instrument, interlock, ignition interlock, interrupter, jig, key, keyboard, Kinetoscope, knocker, doorknocker, rapper, lift, lifting device, lighter, light, igniter, ignitor, machine, magnet, mechanism, memory device, storage device, musical instrument, nest egg, noisemaker, optical device, override, paper feed, peeler, pick, plectrum, plectron, power takeoff, PTO, prod, goad, prompter, autocue, pull, reflector, release, button, remote control, remote, reset, restraint, constraint, router, runner, scratcher, shoehorn, shoetree, shooting stick, shredder, signaling device, snowshoe, sounder, source of illumination, stabilizer, stabiliser, stemmer, straightener, strengthener, reinforcement, stylus, suction cup, support, sweatbox, synchroflash, take-up, teaser, throwing stick, throwing board, spear thrower, dart thrower, tilter, tongs, pair of tongs, toy, trap, trigger, valve, vaporizer, vaporiser, washboard, water cooler

15

noun

Meaning 15

an emblematic design (especially in heraldry)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he was recognized by the device on his shield

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: emblem

Narrower terms: union

16

noun

Meaning 16

any ornamental pattern or design (as in embroidery)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: design, pattern, figure

Narrower terms: seal, stamp

17

noun

Meaning 17

something in an artistic work designed to achieve a particular effect

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: expressive style, style

Narrower terms: conceit, rhetorical device

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dwóh1 Proto-Indo-European *d(w)is- Proto-Italic *dis- Latin dis- Proto-Indo-European *dwóh1 Proto-Indo-European *dwi- Proto-Indo-European *dheh1- Proto-Indo-European *h1weydhh1-der. Proto-Italic *wiðō Latin *vidō Latin dīvidō Latin dīvīsus Old French devisbor. Middle English devis English device From Middle English devis, devise, devyce, devys, devyse, from Old French devis and devise, from Latin dīvīsus, past participle of dīvidō (“to divide”). Doublet of devise (noun).

Across languages

Translations

241 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Afrikaans: toestel — piece of equipment
  • Albanian: vegël — piece of equipment
  • Albanian: aparat — piece of equipment
  • Arabic: أَدَاة (ʔadāh) — piece of equipment
  • Arabic: جِهَاز (jihāz) — piece of equipment
  • Arabic: آلَة (ʔāla) — piece of equipment
  • Arabic: آلة (ʔāle) — piece of equipment
  • Armenian: սարք (sarkʻ) — piece of equipment
  • Armenian: սարքավորում (sarkʻavorum) — piece of equipment
  • Armenian: ապարատ (aparat) — piece of equipment
  • Azerbaijani: cihaz — piece of equipment
  • Azerbaijani: qurğu — piece of equipment
  • Azerbaijani: aparat — piece of equipment
  • Bashkir: ҡоролма (qorolma) — piece of equipment
  • Belarusian: прыстасава́нне (prystasavánnje) — piece of equipment
  • Belarusian: прыла́да (pryláda) — piece of equipment
  • Belarusian: прыбо́р (prybór) — piece of equipment
  • Belarusian: апара́т (aparát) — piece of equipment
  • Bengali: যন্ত্র (jontro) — piece of equipment
  • Bulgarian: устро́йство (ustrójstvo) — piece of equipment
  • Bulgarian: приспособле́ние (prisposoblénie) — piece of equipment
  • Bulgarian: апара́т (aparát) — piece of equipment
  • Burmese: ကိရိယာ (ki.ri.ya) — piece of equipment
  • Burmese: ယန္တရား (yanta.ra:) — piece of equipment
  • Catalan: dispositiu — piece of equipment
  • Catalan: mecanisme — piece of equipment
  • Chinese Cantonese: 裝置 /装置 (zong1 zi3) — piece of equipment
  • Chinese Mandarin: 裝置 /装置 (zhuāngzhì) — piece of equipment
  • Crimean Tatar: tertibat — piece of equipment
  • Crimean Tatar: alet — piece of equipment
  • Czech: zařízení — piece of equipment
  • Danish: indretning — piece of equipment
  • Danish: apparat — piece of equipment
  • Danish: anordning — piece of equipment
  • Dutch: toestel — piece of equipment
  • Dutch: apparaat — piece of equipment
  • Esperanto: aparato — piece of equipment
  • Esperanto: disponaĵo — piece of equipment
  • Estonian: seade — piece of equipment
  • Estonian: aparaat — piece of equipment
  • Finnish: laite — piece of equipment
  • Finnish: kone — piece of equipment
  • French: appareil — piece of equipment
  • French: dispositif — piece of equipment
  • Galician: aparello — piece of equipment
  • Galician: trangallo — piece of equipment
  • Galician: trebello — piece of equipment
  • Georgian: მექანიზმი (mekanizmi) — piece of equipment
  • Georgian: მოწყობილობა (moc̣q̇obiloba) — piece of equipment
  • Georgian: აპარატი (aṗaraṭi) — piece of equipment
  • German: Gerät — piece of equipment
  • German: Apparat — piece of equipment
  • German: Einheit — piece of equipment
  • German: Instrument — piece of equipment
  • German: Baustein — piece of equipment
  • German: Vorrichtung — piece of equipment
  • German: Einrichtung — piece of equipment
  • German: Hilfsmittel — piece of equipment
  • German: Gräät — piece of equipment
  • Greek: συσκευή (syskeví) — piece of equipment
  • Ancient Greek: μηχανή (mēkhanḗ) — piece of equipment
  • Hebrew: הֶתקֵן (mitkan) — piece of equipment
  • Hebrew: מַכְשִׁיר (makhshír) — piece of equipment
  • Hindi: यंत्र (yantra) — piece of equipment
  • Hindi: युक्ति (yukti) — piece of equipment
  • Hindi: उपकरण (upakraṇ) — piece of equipment
  • White Hmong: tshuab — piece of equipment
  • Hungarian: készülék — piece of equipment
  • Hungarian: szerkezet — piece of equipment
  • Hungarian: gépezet — piece of equipment
  • Icelandic: tæki — piece of equipment
  • Indonesian: alat — piece of equipment
  • Indonesian: peranti — piece of equipment
  • Indonesian: perangkat — piece of equipment
  • Irish: gléas — piece of equipment
  • Italian: apparecchio — piece of equipment
  • Italian: congegno — piece of equipment
  • Italian: dispositivo — piece of equipment
  • Italian: periferica — piece of equipment
  • Japanese: 装置 (sōchi) — piece of equipment
  • Japanese: デバイス (debaisu) — piece of equipment
  • Javanese: ꦥꦶꦫꦤ꧀ꦠꦶ (piranti) — piece of equipment
  • Javanese: ꦥꦼꦂꦏꦏꦱ꧀ (perkakas) — piece of equipment
  • Javanese: ꦲꦭꦠ꧀ (alat) — piece of equipment
  • Kazakh: құрылғы (qūrylğy) — piece of equipment
  • Kazakh: аппарат (apparat) — piece of equipment
  • Khmer: គ្រឿង (krɨəng) — piece of equipment
  • Khmer: យន្ត (yŭən) — piece of equipment
  • Korean: 장치 (jangchi) — piece of equipment
  • Korean: 디바이스 (dibaiseu) — piece of equipment
  • Kyrgyz: түзмөк (tüzmök) — piece of equipment
  • Kyrgyz: аппарат (apparat) — piece of equipment
  • Lao: ເຄື່ອງ (khư̄ang) — piece of equipment
  • Lao: ຍົນ (nyon) — piece of equipment
  • Latin: māchina — piece of equipment
  • Latvian: ierīce — piece of equipment
  • Latvian: aparāts — piece of equipment
  • Lithuanian: įranga — piece of equipment
  • Lithuanian: aparatas — piece of equipment
  • Macedonian: направа (naprava) — piece of equipment
  • Malay: alat — piece of equipment
  • Malay: peranti — piece of equipment
  • Maltese: apparat — piece of equipment
  • Māori: pūrere — piece of equipment
  • Mongolian: хэрэглүүр (xereglüür) — piece of equipment
  • Mongolian: аппарат (apparat) — piece of equipment
  • Norwegian Bokmål: innretning — piece of equipment
  • Norwegian Bokmål: apparat — piece of equipment
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: innretning — piece of equipment
  • Pashto: آله (āla) — piece of equipment
  • Iranian Persian: اَفْزارِه (afzâre) — piece of equipment
  • Iranian Persian: اَبْزارَک (abzârak) — piece of equipment
  • Iranian Persian: دَسْتْگاه (dastgâh) — piece of equipment
  • Iranian Persian: آلَت (âlat) — piece of equipment
  • Polish: urządzenie — piece of equipment
  • Polish: przyrząd — piece of equipment
  • Polish: aparat — piece of equipment
  • Portuguese: aparelho — piece of equipment
  • Portuguese: dispositivo — piece of equipment
  • Portuguese: aparato — piece of equipment
  • Romanian: aparat — piece of equipment
  • Romanian: piesă — piece of equipment
  • Romanian: dispozitiv — piece of equipment
  • Romanian: element (de construcție) — piece of equipment
  • Romanian: componentă — piece of equipment
  • Romanian: unitate (componentă) — piece of equipment
  • Russian: устро́йство (ustrójstvo) — piece of equipment
  • Russian: приспособле́ние (prisposoblénije) — piece of equipment
  • Russian: дева́йс (devájs) — piece of equipment
  • Russian: га́джет (gádžet) — piece of equipment
  • Russian: аппара́т (apparát) — piece of equipment
  • Russian: механи́зм (mexanízm) — piece of equipment
  • Russian: прибо́р (pribór) — piece of equipment
  • Sanskrit: यन्त्र (yantra) — piece of equipment
  • Serbo-Croatian: у̏ређа̄ј — piece of equipment
  • Serbo-Croatian: апа̀ра̄т — piece of equipment
  • Serbo-Croatian: ȕređāj — piece of equipment
  • Serbo-Croatian: apàrāt — piece of equipment
  • Slovak: zariadenie — piece of equipment
  • Slovene: naprava — piece of equipment
  • Lower Sorbian: rěd — piece of equipment
  • Upper Sorbian: grat — piece of equipment
  • Spanish: dispositivo — piece of equipment
  • Spanish: mecanismo — piece of equipment
  • Spanish: aparejo — piece of equipment
  • Swedish: apparat — piece of equipment
  • Swedish: redskap — piece of equipment
  • Swedish: husgeråd — piece of equipment
  • Tagalog: pakasam — piece of equipment
  • Tajik: абзорак (abzorak) — piece of equipment
  • Tajik: аппарат (apparat) — piece of equipment
  • Tajik: асбоб (asbob) — piece of equipment
  • Tajik: дастгоҳ (dastgoh) — piece of equipment
  • Tajik: олат (olat) — piece of equipment
  • Thai: เครื่อง (krʉ̂ʉang) — piece of equipment
  • Thai: ยนต์ (yon) — piece of equipment
  • Thai: เครื่องมือ (krʉ̂ʉang-mʉʉ) — piece of equipment
  • Tibetan: འཁོར་ལོ ('khor lo) — piece of equipment
  • Turkish: aygıt — piece of equipment
  • Turkish: alet — piece of equipment
  • Turkish: cihaz — piece of equipment
  • Turkmen: enjam — piece of equipment
  • Turkmen: apparat — piece of equipment
  • Ukrainian: пристрі́й (prystríj) — piece of equipment
  • Ukrainian: апара́т (aparát) — piece of equipment
  • Urdu: آلَہ (āla) — piece of equipment
  • Uyghur: قۇرۇلما (qurulma) — piece of equipment
  • Uzbek: qurilma — piece of equipment
  • Uzbek: apparat — piece of equipment
  • Vietnamese: thiết bị — piece of equipment
  • Vietnamese: dụng cụ — piece of equipment
  • Bulgarian: план (plan) — project, stratagem, artifice
  • Bulgarian: прое́кт (proékt) — project, stratagem, artifice
  • Danish: påfund — project, stratagem, artifice
  • Danish: plan — project, stratagem, artifice
  • Danish: list — project, stratagem, artifice
  • Esperanto: intrigo — project, stratagem, artifice
  • Finnish: juoni — project, stratagem, artifice
  • Finnish: väline — project, stratagem, artifice
  • Finnish: apuväline — project, stratagem, artifice
  • French: stratagème — project, stratagem, artifice
  • French: ruse — project, stratagem, artifice
  • French: manœuvre — project, stratagem, artifice
  • French: artifice — project, stratagem, artifice
  • German: Instrument — project, stratagem, artifice
  • German: Kunstgriff — project, stratagem, artifice
  • German: Vorrichtung — project, stratagem, artifice
  • German: Einrichtung — project, stratagem, artifice
  • German: Hilfsmittel — project, stratagem, artifice
  • Greek: τέχνασμα (téchnasma) — project, stratagem, artifice
  • Italian: stratagemma — project, stratagem, artifice
  • Italian: beffa — project, stratagem, artifice
  • Italian: artificio — project, stratagem, artifice
  • Māori: nuka — project, stratagem, artifice
  • Mongolian: хэрэглүүр (xereglüür) — project, stratagem, artifice
  • Portuguese: artifício — project, stratagem, artifice
  • Russian: план (plan) — project, stratagem, artifice
  • Russian: прое́кт (projékt) — project, stratagem, artifice
  • Russian: схе́ма (sxéma) — project, stratagem, artifice
  • Russian: зате́я (zatéja) — project, stratagem, artifice
  • Russian: уло́вка (ulóvka) — project, stratagem, artifice
  • Scottish Gaelic: cleas — project, stratagem, artifice
  • Serbo-Croatian: на̀ум — project, stratagem, artifice
  • Serbo-Croatian: nàum — project, stratagem, artifice
  • Swedish: plan — project, stratagem, artifice
  • Swedish: knep — project, stratagem, artifice
  • Ottoman Turkish: حیله (hile) — project, stratagem, artifice
  • Ottoman Turkish: اورند (evrend) — project, stratagem, artifice
  • Danish: bombe — improvised explosive device
  • Finnish: omatekoinen pommi — improvised explosive device
  • Azerbaijani: şüar — heraldry: personal motto or emblem
  • Azerbaijani: deviz — heraldry: personal motto or emblem
  • Bulgarian: деви́з (devíz) — heraldry: personal motto or emblem
  • Danish: devise — heraldry: personal motto or emblem
  • Danish: valgsprog — heraldry: personal motto or emblem
  • Finnish: tunnus — heraldry: personal motto or emblem
  • Finnish: tunnuskuvio (emblem) — heraldry: personal motto or emblem
  • Finnish: tunnuslause — heraldry: personal motto or emblem
  • German: Motto — heraldry: personal motto or emblem
  • German: Emblem — heraldry: personal motto or emblem
  • German: Devise — heraldry: personal motto or emblem
  • Greek: έμβλημα (émvlima) — heraldry: personal motto or emblem
  • Italian: emblema — heraldry: personal motto or emblem
  • Italian: coccarda — heraldry: personal motto or emblem
  • Italian: motto — heraldry: personal motto or emblem
  • Italian: inscrizione — heraldry: personal motto or emblem
  • Macedonian: деви́за (devíza) — heraldry: personal motto or emblem
  • Russian: деви́з (devíz) — heraldry: personal motto or emblem
  • Russian: эмбле́ма (embléma) — heraldry: personal motto or emblem
  • Swedish: devis — heraldry: personal motto or emblem
  • Ottoman Turkish: علامت (ʼalamet) — heraldry: personal motto or emblem
  • Ottoman Turkish: نشان (nişan) — heraldry: personal motto or emblem
  • Finnish: tunnusmerkki — law: image used in whole or part as a trademark or service mark
  • Finnish: tunnus — law: image used in whole or part as a trademark or service mark
  • German: Emblem — law: image used in whole or part as a trademark or service mark
  • German: Marke — law: image used in whole or part as a trademark or service mark
  • Greek: έμβλημα (émvlima) — law: image used in whole or part as a trademark or service mark
  • Russian: эмбле́ма (embléma) — law: image used in whole or part as a trademark or service mark
  • Russian: ма́рка (márka) — law: image used in whole or part as a trademark or service mark
  • Finnish: tunnus — printing: image denoting authority or provenience
  • Finnish: merkintä — printing: image denoting authority or provenience
Real reading context

device in complete knowledge articles