tool

A2 Topic:Tools, Machines & Construction

US /tuːl/ See IPA manual

Freq #4263

Meanings

1

noun
A device you hold and use to do a particular job.

Several prehistoric tools, including a stone axe, were found during the dig.
2

noun
Anything that helps you do or achieve something.

Language is a powerful tool for sharing ideas.
3

noun
A program used to build software or perform technical tasks.

The engineer developed several tools to test the code.
4

noun
A person who is used or controlled by someone else.

She was just a tool of the powerful lobby.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a device you hold and use... instrument

2 noun · anything that helps you do... means

4 noun · a person who is used or... pawn

More use

Word family

Forms tooledtoolingtools

Derived forms dry-toole-toolfive-toolk-toolmeta-toolmetatoolmicrotoolmindtoolmulti-toolmultitoolnanotoolretool

Related forms device instrument

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

tool kit
a set of tools kept together for practical work or repairs

Noun + noun

Proverbs (2)

See all

Etymology

From Middle English tool, tol, from Old English tōl (“tool, implement, instrument”, literally “that with which one prepares something”), perhaps borrowed from Old Norse tól, but at any rate ultimately from Proto-Germanic *tōlą (“that which is used in preparation, tool”), from Proto-Indo-European *dewh₂- (“to tie to, secure”), equivalent to taw (“to prepare”) + -le (agent suffix). Cognate with Scots tuil (“tool, implement, instrument, device”), Icelandic tól (“tool”), Faroese tól (“tool, instrument”). Related to Old English tāwian (“to make, prepare, or cultivate”); see taw, and tow ("fibres us…

*dewh₂- Proto-Indo-European tool Middle English tōl Old English tól Old Norse *tōlą Proto-Germanic

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Tools, Machines & Construction

External links

# tool

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /tuːl/
**Frequency rank:** 4263

## Meanings
1. A device you hold and use to do a particular job.
2. Anything that helps you do or achieve something.
3. A program used to build software or perform technical tasks.
4. A person who is used or controlled by someone else.

## Examples
- Several prehistoric tools, including a stone axe, were found during the dig.
- Language is a powerful tool for sharing ideas.
- The engineer developed several tools to test the code.
- She was just a tool of the powerful lobby.

## Synonyms
- use

## Derived Forms
- dry-tool
- e-tool
- five-tool
- k-tool
- meta-tool
- metatool
- microtool
- mindtool
- multi-tool
- multitool
- nanotool
- retool

## Related Forms
- device
- instrument

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *dewh₂-
- Root: tool
- Root: tōl
- Root: tól
- Root: *tōlą

## Etymology
From Middle English tool, tol, from Old English tōl (“tool, implement, instrument”, literally “that with which one prepares something”), perhaps borrowed from Old Norse tól, but at any rate ultimately from Proto-Germanic *tōlą (“that which is used in preparation, tool”), from Proto-Indo-European *dewh₂- (“to tie to, secure”), equivalent to taw (“to prepare”) + -le (agent suffix). Cognate with Scots tuil (“tool, implement, instrument, device”), Icelandic tól (“tool”), Faroese tól (“tool, instrument”). Related to Old English tāwian (“to make, prepare, or cultivate”); see taw, and tow ("fibres us…

## AI Etymology
Tool is from Middle English tool, tol, from Old English tōl (“tool, implement, instrument”, literally “that with which one prepares something”), perhaps borrowed from Old Norse tól, but at any rate ultimately from Proto-Germanic *tōlą (“that which is used in preparation, tool”), from Proto-Indo-European *dewh₂- (“to tie to, secure”), equivalent to taw (“to prepare”) + -le (agent suffix). Cognate with Scots tuil (“tool, implement, instrument, device”), Icelandic tól (“tool”), Faroese tól (“tool, instrument”). Derived formations include dry-tool, e-tool, five-tool, k-tool, meta-tool, metatool, microtool, mindtool.

## Topics
- Tools, Machines & Construction

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