device

I

(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)

n. scheme, trick, stratagem, ruse, expedient; badge, emblem, motto; mechanism, contrivance, instrument, invention, gadget; (pl.) inclination, pleasure. See instrumentality, plan, desire, cunning.

II

(Roget's IV) n.

1. [An instrument]

Syn. invention, contrivance, mechanism, tool, apparatus, machine, gear, equipment, appliance, medium, contraption, gadget, arrangement, expedient, wherewithal, means, agent, tackle, rigging, harness, material, implement, utensil, construction, outfit, article, accessory, makeshift, auxiliary, stopgap, widget, thingamabob*, thingamajig*, whatnot*, gimmick*, wrinkle*, thing*, doohickey*, whatsit*, whatchamacallit*; see also contrivance 2 , machine 1 , tool 1 .

2. [A shrewd method]

Syn. artifice, scheme, design, trap, dodge, machination, trick, pattern, proposition, loophole, wile, craft, cunningness, stratagem, ruse, expedient, subterfuge, plan, project, plot, fake, chicanery, racket, game, craftiness, cabal, evasion, finesse, clever move, sucker trap*, catch*, joker*; see also discovery 2 , method 2 , trick 1 .

3. [A figure or scroll]

Syn. slogan, symbol, sign; see design 1 , emblem .

III

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus) n.

1. instrument apparatus, contrivance, tool, appliance, mechanism, rig, machine, gadget, *contraption, outfit, gear, *thingamajig.

2. scheme plan, contrivance, design, ploy, ruse, trick, artifice, gimmick, deus ex machina, stunt, machination.

IV

(Roget's Thesaurus II) noun 1. Something, as a machine, devised for a particular function: apparatus, appliance, contraption, contrivance. See MACHINE. 2. Something invented: brainchild, contrivance, invention. See MACHINE, MAKE. 3. An indirect, usually cunning means of gaining an end: artifice, deception, dodge, feint, gimmick, imposture, jig, maneuver, ploy, ruse, sleight, stratagem, subterfuge, trick, wile. Informal: shenanigan, take-in. See HONEST, MEANS. 4. An element or a component in a decorative composition: design, figure, motif, motive, pattern. See PART.