Definitions for device
dɪˈvaɪsde·vice

Princeton's WordNet(2.80 / 5 votes)Rate this definition:

1. devicenoun

   an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose

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

2. devicenoun

   something in an artistic work designed to achieve a particular effect

3. device, gimmick, twistnoun

   any clever maneuver

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

4. devicenoun

   any ornamental pattern or design (as in embroidery)

5. devicenoun

   an emblematic design (especially in heraldry)

   "he was recognized by the device on his shield"

GCIDE(3.00 / 4 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Devicenoun

   any artifactual object designed to perform an action or process, with or without an operator in attendance.

Wiktionary(4.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. devicenoun

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

   There are a number of household devices in a kitchen such as a dishwasher, a garbage disposal, or an electric can opener.

2. devicenoun

   A project or scheme, often designed to deceive; a stratagem; an artifice.

3. devicenoun

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

4. devicenoun

   A motto, emblem, or other mark used to distinguish the bearer from others. A device differs from a badge or cognizance primarily because as it is a personal distinction, and not a badge borne by members of the same house successively.

5. devicenoun

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

6. devicenoun

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

7. devicenoun

   A spectacle or show.

8. devicenoun

   Opinion; decision.

9. devicenoun

   Power of devising; invention; contrivance.

10. Etymology: devis, from divisus, past participle of dividere, thus originally, when goods were being divided among people, a mark put on each item to say who was getting what.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Devicenoun

   Etymology: devise, French; divisa, Italian.

   1. A contrivance; a stratagem.

   This is our device,
   That Falstaff at that oak shall meet with us. William Shakespeare.

   He intended it as a politick device to lessen their interest, and keep them low in the world. Francis Atterbury, Sermons.

   2. A design; a scheme formed; project; speculation.

   Touching the exchange of laws in practice with laws in device, which they say are better for the state of the church, if they might take place: the farther we examine them, the greater cause we find to conclude, although we continue the same we are, the harm is not great. Richard Hooker, Dedicat.

   His device is against Babylon, to destroy it. Jer. li. 11.

   There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless, the counsel of the Lord shall stand. Prov. xix. 21.

   3. The emblem on a shield; the ensign armorial of a nation or family.

   Then change we shields, and their devices bear;
   Let fraud supply the want of force in war. John Dryden, Æn.

   Hibernia’s harp, device of her command,
   And parent of her mirth, shall there be seen. Matthew Prior.

   They intend to let the world see what party they are of, by figures and designs upon these fans; as the knights-errant used to distinguish themselves by devices on their shields. Addis.

   4. Invention; genius.

   He’s gentle; never schooled, and yet learned; full of noble device, of all sorts enchantingly beloved. William Shakespeare, As you like it.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Devicenoun

   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

2. Devicenoun

   power of devising; invention; contrivance

3. Devicenoun

   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

4. Devicenoun

   improperly, an heraldic bearing

5. Devicenoun

   anything fancifully conceived

6. Devicenoun

   a spectacle or show

7. Devicenoun

   opinion; decision

8. Etymology: [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.]

Freebase(4.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Device

   Device was a short-lived American pop-rock trio formed by keyboardist, bassist and vocalist Holly Knight, vocalist Paul Engemann and guitarist Gene Black. Device's only album, 22B3, was released in the spring of 1986. It produced a Top 40 single in the U.S. with "Hanging on a Heart Attack," which peaked at #35 on the Hot 100. The band's second single, "Who Says," peaked at #79. Both of these songs were promoted by music videos which garnered MTV rotation, and both were released as 12" singles with remix and dub versions which received club play. A third single, "When Love is Good" was released, while the album peaked at #73 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. Mike Chapman produced the album.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Device

   de-vīs′, n. that which is devised or designed: contrivance: power of devising: genius: (her.) the emblem borne upon a shield: a picture of some kind, with a motto illustrative of a man's life or character, borne by an individual rather than by a family.—adj. Device′ful (Spens.), full of devices. [O. Fr. devise. See Devise.]

Military Dictionary and Gazetteer(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. device

   The emblem on a shield or standard.

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. device

   A type of product created and designed in various colors, materials, mechanisms, software, shapes, sizes and styles for a specific purpose according to the manufacturer design and instruction.

   The device was of great purpose as it was so necessary to have it.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on January 16, 2020  

Suggested Resources(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. device

   Song lyrics by device -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by device on the Lyrics.com website.

Matched Categories

1. • Design
   • Emblem
   • Expressive Style
   • Heraldry
   • Instrumentality
   • Maneuver

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'device' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #3361

2. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'device' in Nouns Frequency: #912

How to pronounce device?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say device in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of device in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of device in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of device in a Sentence

1. Montgomery County Coroner Kent Harshbarger:

   A pipe device was found in his pocket with an attached clear plastic baggie that has been determined to contain cocaine, and the assailant's cavity blood sample was found to contain cocaine, alprazolam and ethanol.

2. Ervin Sejdic -LRB- left -RRB-:

   The device is more or less ready [ for a company to commercialize it ].

3. Harald Haas:

   All we would need to do is to fit a small microchip to every potential illumination device. And this would then combine two basic functionalities: illumination and wireless data transmission, and it's this symbiosis that I personally believe could solve the four essential problems that face us in wireless communication these days. And in the future, you would not only have 14 billion light bulbs, you may have 14 billion Li-Fis deployed worldwide -- for a cleaner, a greener, and even a brighter future.

4. Vivian Balakrishnan:

   We are developing and will soon roll out a portable wearable device that will ... not depend on possession of a smartphone, if this portable device works, we may then distribute it to everyone in Singapore.

5. Jeff Williams:

   The car is the ultimate mobile device, isn't it? we explore all kinds of categories. We'll certainly continue to look at those, and evaluate where we can make a huge difference.

Popularity rank by frequency of use