devices

devices — noun

1. A piece of equipment or a tool made to perform a specific job or function.

1.名詞B1
釋義

A piece of equipment or a tool made to perform a specific job or function.

例句

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.

同義詞
  • apparatus

    more formal, often for scientific or technical equipment

  • gadget

    informal; suggests a small, clever, modern tool

  • tool

    broader; can be simple (hammer) or complex (drill)

用法筆記

This entry uses the plural form 'devices' as the headword. The singular form 'device' is also very common.

常見錯誤

I need a device to open this bottle.
I need a tool to open this bottle.
💡'Device' often suggests an electronic or mechanical invention, not a simple manual tool.

2. An electronic product such as a smartphone, tablet, or laptop that can connect t

2.名詞B1
釋義

An electronic product such as a smartphone, tablet, or laptop that can connect to the internet and run applications.

例句

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

同義詞
  • gadget

    informal; often for personal electronics

  • mobile device

    specifically portable internet-connected devices

用法筆記

Often used in technology, education, and workplace contexts. Frequently modified by 'digital', 'mobile', 'smart', or 'electronic'.

常見錯誤

I forgot my device at home.' (when talking about a phone)
I forgot my phone at home.
💡If the context is clear, native speakers usually name the specific device rather than using the general word.

3. A particular way of using language, images, or sounds to create a specific artis

3.名詞B2
釋義

A particular way of using language, images, or sounds to create a specific artistic or persuasive effect.

例句

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

同義詞
  • technique

    broader; used across all fields, not just art and literature

  • method

    more general; a way of doing something

  • strategy

    implies planning ahead for a desired result

用法筆記

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'.

常見錯誤

The writer used a device to make the story interesting.' (too vague)
The writer used flashback as a narrative device to reveal the character's past.
💡Specify what kind of device it is.

4. A weapon that detonates, such as a bomb or an incendiary object designed to caus

4.名詞B2
釋義

A weapon that detonates, such as a bomb or an incendiary object designed to cause destruction.

例句

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)

同義詞
  • bomb

    more specific; the most common type of explosive device

  • explosive

    can refer to the material rather than the object containing it

用法筆記

Frequently appears in news reports and official safety contexts. Almost always preceded by an adjective such as 'explosive' or 'incendiary'.

常見錯誤

They found a device in the car.' (ambiguous)
They found an explosive device in the car.
💡Without 'explosive', the sentence could mean any kind of equipment. Always clarify when referring to a bomb.