Definitions for device
dɪˈvaɪsde·vice

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

1. device(noun)

   an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose

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

2. device(noun)

   something in an artistic work designed to achieve a particular effect

3. device, gimmick, twist(noun)

   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. device(noun)

   any ornamental pattern or design (as in embroidery)

5. device(noun)

   an emblematic design (especially in heraldry)

   "he was recognized by the device on his shield"

GCIDE(3.00 / 4 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Device(n.)

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

   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.]

Wiktionary(4.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. device(Noun)

   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.

   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.

2. device(Noun)

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

   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.

3. device(Noun)

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

   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.

4. device(Noun)

   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.

   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.

5. device(Noun)

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

   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.

6. device(Noun)

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

   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.

7. device(Noun)

   A spectacle or show.

   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.

8. device(Noun)

   Opinion; decision.

   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.

9. device(Noun)

   Power of devising; invention; contrivance.

   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.

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

1. Device(noun)

   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

   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.]

2. Device(noun)

   power of devising; invention; contrivance

   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.]

3. Device(noun)

   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

   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.]

4. Device(noun)

   improperly, an heraldic bearing

   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.]

5. Device(noun)

   anything fancifully conceived

   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.]

6. Device(noun)

   a spectacle or show

   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.]

7. Device(noun)

   opinion; decision

   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.

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

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

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. Oculus Founder Palmer Luckey:

   One of the first things people do is they reach out into this virtual world, we wanted to create an input device that allows people to reach out.

2. James McQuivey:

   The company has historically had rocky relations with other hardware makers, preferring to imagine a world in which everyone buys an Apple device, then powers it with Apple services, this was the model for the original iPod, as most people forget. You couldn't use iTunes on a PC originally. Eventually Apple got wise.

3. Anthony May:

   What I'm not seeing is enough means to initiate this device, whether by design, whether by accident. I'm not seeing that, if I'm going by design,( if) it was designed that way, then the individual's motivation was simply to spread fear, instill fear.

4. Susan Morley:

   As soon as a child is old enough to be on any device, they're going to be searching, toddlers are free searching. They may not know exactly what they're doing, but they're pushing buttons all over and sometimes parents are too busy and distracted and disconnected to look over their shoulders. It's uncharted territory for a lot of parents, and they find it hard to keep up.

5. Peter Goelz:

   This is a fairly simple external device that can get damaged on a regular basis, that's important because Ethiopian Airlines made the decision to rely on them as single sources for streams of data.

Images & Illustrations of device

Popularity rank by frequency of use