From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishdevicede‧vice /dɪˈvaɪs/ ●●○ S3 W2 AWL noun [countable] 1 PIECE OF EQUIPMENTTMACHINEa machine or tool that does a special job SYN gadget modern labour-saving devicesdevice for doing something a device for separating metal from garbagedevice to do something The company makes devices to detect carbon monoxide.2 SPECIAL METHODWAY/METHODa special way of doing something that makes it easier to dodevice for doing something Testing yourself with information on cards is a useful device for studying. a memory device3 PLAN/TRICKTRICK/DECEIVEa plan or trick, especially for a dishonest purposedevice to do something Their proposal was only a device to confuse the opposition.4 BOMBSCBPMWa bomb or other explosive weaponexplosive/nuclear/incendiary etc device5 LITERATURE/THEATREALAPthe special use of words in literature, or of words, lights etc in a play, to achieve an effect Metaphor is a common literary device. → leave somebody to their own devices at leave1(4)COLLOCATIONSADJECTIVES/NOUN + device an electronic deviceThe shops are always full of new electronic devices.a mechanical device (=using power from an engine or machine)One day it will be technically possible to replace patients’ hearts with mechanical devices.a simple deviceHe invented a simple device for chopping onions.a clever device (=made using a clever idea)This clever little device rings to tell you where you left your keys.a labour-saving device British English, a labor-saving device American English (=that reduces the amount of work you have to do)Modern houses have so many labour-saving devices.a security device (=designed to protect against crime)Cars today have better alarms and security devices.a safety device (=designed to keep people safe)The accident happened because a simple safety device wasn’t properly fitted.a handheld device (=that you hold in your hand)This is a handheld device for playing electronic games.a storage device (=a computer device for storing information electronically)You may need an additional storage device if you have a lot of data.a medical deviceThe company makes medical devices that use laser technology for correcting eye disorders.
Examples from the Corpus
device• Rahman uses dreams as a device to fill in the characters' backgrounds.• An EEG is a device that records electrical activity in the brain.• What is sought is a device.• The phone call was just a device to keep him from leaving.• Commissions and inquiries are little more than a device to allow politicians to put off taking decisions.• a device for controlling temperature• The farmers there still use the 'Archimedes Screw', an ancient device for raising water from a lake or well.• Newton has always been positioned as a handheld communications device.• Severe penalties were introduced for abortions and the sale of contraceptive devices.• a birth control device• He used every device possible to prevent inspectors from entering the premises.• an explosive device• They were both aware that there might be listening devices hidden in the room.• Moulton said retrofitting could be done, at a cost of about $ 150 for the add-on device.• The National Association for Elevator Safety says that most elevators have safety devices that prevent free-falls.• Cop shop: Police have opened their own cop shop at Darlington police station to sell personal attack alarms and security devices.• A series of simple push-buttons on the solid state device enables the required temperature range to be set precisely.• Police found the device hidden in a suitcase.• Four of the victims received serious injuries when the device ripped through one of the station's lavatories.• Recommendations can be made or applications recorded easily with the device using drop-down menus and templates.• The device was removed from the shop and detonated in a controlled explosion.• a thermostatic device for controlling temperaturedevice to do something• They became an accounting device to help managers, not a control device to hem them in.• Soldiers were pushing it open and Rostov saw that the whole inner yard was a clever device to protect the city.• If this were the case we could avoid having to examine each device to arbitrarily high accuracy.• The company makes devices to detect carbon monoxide.• Some use other devices to prop the branches.• The author of Dame Sirith was fully able to exploit such prosodic devices to good effect.• Subsequent writers re-orient and transform Spenser's devices to different contexts.• I retire the devices to their cupboards.• Heart patients have been implanted with ventricular devices to operate both chambers of their hearts.device to do something• They became an accounting device to help managers, not a control device to hem them in.• Soldiers were pushing it open and Rostov saw that the whole inner yard was a clever device to protect the city.• If this were the case we could avoid having to examine each device to arbitrarily high accuracy.• Some use other devices to prop the branches.• The author of Dame Sirith was fully able to exploit such prosodic devices to good effect.• Subsequent writers re-orient and transform Spenser's devices to different contexts.• I retire the devices to their cupboards.• Heart patients have been implanted with ventricular devices to operate both chambers of their hearts.explosive/nuclear/incendiary etc device• There have been no additional explosive devices found nor any arrests made.• An incendiary device exploded setting fire to furniture, but the blaze was brought under control.• Investigator Charles Barnett said all three face felony conspiracy, burglary and explosive devices charges.• He said the equipment could be used at checkpoints to search people for explosive devices.• A small explosive device used in the booster-separation system failed to fire when Endeavour launched on 30 November last year.• He then turned away and detonated the explosive device strapped to his body.• The caller claimed three incendiary devices had been planted at the Vineyards.Origin device (1200-1300) Old French devis, devise “division, plan”, from deviser “to divide, tell”; → DEVISE 