From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishldoce_338_htooltool1 /tuːl/ ●●● S2 W2 noun [countable] 1 
TZsomething that you hold in your hand and use to do a particular job I don’t have the right tools to start fiddling around with the engine. a shop selling garden tools2 HELPa piece of equipment or a skill that is useful for doing your job Television is an important tool for the modern teacher. These books are the tools of my trade (=the things I need to do my job).3 USE A PERSONsomeone who is used unfairly by another person and who has to do things they do not really want to do – used to show disapprovaltool of The king was merely a tool of the military government.4 informal not politeHBH a man’s penis (=sex organ) → down tools at down2(3)
TZsomething that you hold in your hand and use to do a particular job I don’t have the right tools to start fiddling around with the engine. a shop selling garden tools2 HELPa piece of equipment or a skill that is useful for doing your job Television is an important tool for the modern teacher. These books are the tools of my trade (=the things I need to do my job).3 USE A PERSONsomeone who is used unfairly by another person and who has to do things they do not really want to do – used to show disapprovaltool of The king was merely a tool of the military government.4 informal not politeHBH a man’s penis (=sex organ) → down tools at down2(3)Examples from the Corpus
tool• The king was merely a tool of the military regime.• a tool for cutting metal• The Internet has been an effective tool for advertising.• All my gardening tools had been stolen from the shed.• A good tool kit should contain pliers, screwdrivers, and wire-cutters.• He took a spanner from his tool box and tightened up the bolts on the gate.• These plans were an invaluable tool which increased the accuracy and the efficiency of the project.• At first, options were distrusted by many as risky, esoteric investment tools.• Interest rates are one of the Finance Minister's main tools of economic policy.• Using the computer environment as our tool we can process and reshape all kinds of information swiftly and perfectly.• Pictures of fleeing refugees were used as an effective propaganda tool against the Communists.• He couldn't finish repairing the engine because he didn't have the right tools.• a carpenter's tools• The elements of a nutrition program plan provide the manager with the tools to anticipate results and conduct ongoing evaluation.• Dance and aerobics classes are a useful tool for encouraging girls back to school P.E. lessons.• Inspection sites are dirty and may be cluttered with tools, materials, or debris.tool of• Many see the senator as a tool of the auto industry.tooltool2 verb [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] American English informalTTRDLO to drive along a street, especially for fun He spent the afternoon tooling around town. → tool up→ See Verb tableFrom Longman Business Dictionarytooltool1 /tuːl/ noun [countable]1an object, piece of equipment, or device used for making thingsSomething like sixty tools may be used to machine a workpiece.a tool manufacturer2a skill or method of doing a particular taskPraise is a hugely powerfulmanagement tool.Using a preferred currency can be a strong marketing tool when negotiating a contract.Reports and accounts are a useful publicity tool.3COMPUTING a piece of software designed to do a particular taska new online tool to help digital photographerstooltool2 verb → tool up→ See Verb tableOrigin tool1 Old English tol 