# device

/dɪˈvaɪs/ (US) · /dɪvˈaɪs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/device
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a tool or machine

noun · CEFR A2

an object or machine that has been made for a specific purpose, especially an electronic one.

For teachers: a piece of equipment or a mechanism designed to serve a specific function, particularly in electronic or mechanical contexts.

- You can connect more than one mobile device to the office Wi-Fi.
- The laboratory is equipped with a sophisticated tracking device that monitors the movement of particles in real time.

### 2. a clever plan

noun · CEFR B2

a clever plan or trick used to get a specific result.

For teachers: a scheme, stratagem, or artifice designed to achieve a particular goal, often through cleverness or deception.

- The character in the story used a clever device to escape from the locked room.
- The tax hike was merely a political device intended to appease the opposition without making substantive changes to the budget.

### 3. writing/speech technique

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

a special way of using words to create a particular effect in a story or speech.

For teachers: a linguistic or structural technique employed by a writer or speaker to achieve a specific rhetorical or aesthetic effect.

- Metaphor is a common literary device used to compare two different things.
- The orator employed several rhetorical devices, including repetition and irony, to sway the undecided members of the audience.

### 4. a logo or emblem

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a design or symbol used as a logo or to represent a person or group.

For teachers: a symbolic design, emblem, or heraldic figure used to identify a person, family, or corporate entity.

- The knight's shield was decorated with a golden lion device.
- The company's trademark device was prominently displayed on every piece of official correspondence to ensure brand recognition.

### 5. an explosive

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

a word sometimes used for a bomb, especially one made by hand.

For teachers: a euphemistic or technical term for an explosive unit, often an improvised one.

- The police found a suspicious device left in the park and called the experts.
- Security forces were alerted to the presence of an improvised explosive device concealed within a discarded container near the terminal.

Usage: Often appears in the phrase 'incendiary device' or 'explosive device'.

## Examples

- This small device helps you track your keys.
- The technician repaired the electronic device by replacing a single damaged wire inside the casing.
- Modern smartphones are sophisticated multi-purpose devices that have effectively replaced cameras, music players, and handheld gaming consoles for the average consumer.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.