device

B1 Topic:Technology & Computing

US /dɪˈvaɪs/ UK /dɪˈvaɪs/ See IPA manual

Freq #2546

Meanings

1

noun
A piece of equipment made for a particular purpose, especially an electronic or mechanical one.

The device is small enough to wear on your wrist.
2

noun
A clever method, trick, or plan, often used to achieve something or to deceive.

They would use any device to win the argument.
3

noun
A technique a writer or speaker uses to create an effect on the audience.

Repetition is a common device in persuasive speeches.
4

noun
A bomb, especially a home-made or improvised one.

The police safely removed the explosive device.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a piece of equipment made... apparatus appliance gadget machine tool

2 noun · a clever method, trick, or... gimmick scheme stratagem

Word family

Forms devices

Derived forms cryodevicedevicefuldevicelesse-deviceideviceinterdeviceintradevicemacrodevicemetadevicemicrodevicemultidevicenano-device

Related forms instrument tool

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).

devis Middle English dīvīsus Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Technology & Computing Tools, Machines & Construction

External links

# device

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /dɪˈvaɪs/
**IPA (UK):** /dɪˈvaɪs/
**Frequency rank:** 2546

## Meanings
1. A piece of equipment made for a particular purpose, especially an electronic or mechanical one.
2. A clever method, trick, or plan, often used to achieve something or to deceive.
3. A technique a writer or speaker uses to create an effect on the audience.
4. A bomb, especially a home-made or improvised one.

## Examples
- The device is small enough to wear on your wrist.
- They would use any device to win the argument.
- Repetition is a common device in persuasive speeches.
- The police safely removed the explosive device.

## Derived Forms
- cryodevice
- deviceful
- deviceless
- e-device
- idevice
- interdevice
- intradevice
- macrodevice
- metadevice
- microdevice
- multidevice
- nano-device

## Related Forms
- instrument
- tool

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: devis
- Root: dīvīsus

## 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).

## AI Etymology
device comes 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). The historical chain includes Middle English devis, Old French devis, Latin dīvīsus. Current senses include A piece of equipment made for a particular purpose, especially an electronic or mechanical one and A clever method, trick, or plan, often used to achieve something or to deceive. English relatives and later formations include cryodevice, deviceful, deviceless, instrument, tool.

## Topics
- Technology & Computing
- Tools, Machines & Construction

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device

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