devices
devices — noun
1. A piece of equipment or a tool made to perform a specific job or function.
A piece of equipment or a tool made to perform a specific job or function.
The hospital bought several new medical devices to help with patient care.
collocation: medical devices
Theo uses a small tracking device to find his keys when he loses them.
Modern kitchen devices like blenders and mixers make cooking much faster.
Engineers at the factory are testing a new device that measures air quality.
noun phrase: device that measures + [quantity]
Mei-Lin bought a clever little device that opens jars without any effort.
- medical devices
- electronic device
- tracking device
- safety device
- measuring device
Usage Note
This entry uses the plural form 'devices' as the headword. The singular form 'device' is also very common.
Common Mistakes
2. An electronic product such as a smartphone, tablet, or laptop that can connect t
An electronic product such as a smartphone, tablet, or laptop that can connect to the internet and run applications.
Many students now bring their own digital devices to class for taking notes.
collocation: digital devices
The app works on all your devices, including your phone and your tablet.
collocation: on all your devices
Chidi needs to charge his devices before the long flight to Lagos.
The school asks parents to label every digital device their child brings in.
Fatima keeps all her devices on silent mode during meetings.
- digital device
- mobile device
- smart device
- device settings
- device management
- gadget
informal; often for personal electronics
- mobile device
specifically portable internet-connected devices
Usage Note
Often used in technology, education, and workplace contexts. Frequently modified by 'digital', 'mobile', 'smart', or 'electronic'.
Common Mistakes
3. A particular way of using language, images, or sounds to create a specific artis
A particular way of using language, images, or sounds to create a specific artistic or persuasive effect.
The author uses foreshadowing as a literary device to hint at the ending.
collocation: literary device
Amara's speech was full of rhetorical devices that kept the audience's attention.
collocation: rhetorical device
The filmmaker used a clever narrative device to show the same story from two viewpoints.
collocation: narrative device
Metaphor is a common poetic device that compares two unlike things.
collocation: poetic device
Omar used a simple visual device in his presentation to make the data easy to understand.
- literary device
- rhetorical device
- narrative device
- poetic device
- dramatic device
Usage Note
Common in literary analysis and public speaking. Usually paired with an adjective that names the field or function, such as 'literary', 'rhetorical', 'narrative', or 'poetic'.
Common Mistakes
4. A weapon that detonates, such as a bomb or an incendiary object designed to caus
A weapon that detonates, such as a bomb or an incendiary object designed to cause destruction.
The police team safely removed the explosive device from the building.
collocation: explosive device
Army experts were called in to examine the device before it could go off.
collocation: examine the device (military context)
The soldier carried a heavy bag of equipment but no explosive devices.
Investigators found parts of an incendiary device at the scene of the fire.
collocation: incendiary device
The bomb squad confirmed that the suspicious package contained no explosive device.
- explosive device
- incendiary device
- improvised explosive device (IED)
- detonating device
Usage Note
Frequently appears in news reports and official safety contexts. Almost always preceded by an adjective such as 'explosive' or 'incendiary'.