types:
adapter,
adaptor
device that enables something to be used in a way different from that for which it was intended or makes different pieces of apparatus compatible
afterburner
a device injects fuel into a hot exhaust for extra thrust
agglomerator
a device that causes material to gather into rounded balls
aspergill,
aspersorium
a short-handled device with a globe containing a sponge; used for sprinkling holy water
bait,
decoy,
lure
something used to lure fish or other animals into danger so they can be trapped or killed
blower
a device that produces a current of air
bootjack
has V-shaped notch for pulling off boots
breathalyser,
breathalyzer
a device that measures chemicals (especially the alcohol content) in a person's expired breath
bubbler
any of various devices in which air or some other gas is bubbled through a liquid
buffer,
fender
a cushion-like device that reduces shock due to an impact
clip-on
a device (as an earring, sunglasses, microphone etc.) that is attached by clips
comb
a flat device with narrow pointed teeth on one edge; disentangles or arranges hair
conductor
a device designed to transmit electricity, heat, etc.
corer
a device for removing the core from apples
crusher
a device that crushes something
cutoff
a device that terminates the flow in a pipe
damper,
muffler
a device that decreases the amplitude of electronic, mechanical, acoustical, or aerodynamic oscillations
deflector
a device intended to turn aside the flow of something (water or air or smoke etc)
depressor
a device used by physician to press a part down or aside
detector,
sensing element,
sensor
any device that receives a signal or stimulus (as heat or pressure or light or motion etc.) and responds to it in a distinctive manner
diestock
a device that holds the dies that cut external threads on metal cylinders
drive
(computer science) a device that writes data onto or reads data from a storage medium
elastic device
any flexible device that will return to its original shape when stretched
fan
a device for creating a current of air by movement of a surface or surfaces
filter
device that removes something from whatever passes through it
flare
a device that produces a bright light for warning or illumination or identification
fumigator
a device that generates a gas for the purpose of disinfecting or eradicating pests
gas fixture
a device to convey illuminating gas from the pipe to the gas burner
groover
a device that makes grooves by cutting or punching
heater,
warmer
device that heats water or supplies warmth to a room
heat exchanger
device that transfers heat from one liquid to another without allowing them to mix
horn
a device having the shape of a horn
foil,
hydrofoil
a device consisting of a flat or curved piece (as a metal plate) so that its surface reacts to the water it is passing through
imprint
a device produced by pressure on a surface
indicator
a device for showing the operating condition of some system
instrument
a device that requires skill for proper use
interrupter
a device for automatically interrupting an electric current
jig
a device that holds a piece of machine work and guides the tools operating on it
key
metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated
keyboard
device consisting of a set of keys on a piano or organ or typewriter or typesetting machine or computer or the like
Kinetoscope
a device invented by Edison that gave an impression of movement as an endless loop of film moved continuously over a light source with a rapid shutter; precursor of the modern motion picture
lift
a device worn in a shoe or boot to make the wearer look taller or to correct a shortened leg
machine
any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
magnet
(physics) a device that attracts iron and produces a magnetic field
mechanism
device consisting of a piece of machinery; has moving parts that perform some function
nest egg
device consisting of an artificial egg left in a nest to induce hens to lay their eggs in it
noisemaker
a device (such as a clapper or bell or horn) used to make a loud noise at a celebration
override
a manually operated device to correct the operation of an automatic device
paper feed
a device for inserting sheets of paper into a printer or typewriter
peeler
a device for peeling vegetables or fruits
pick,
plectron,
plectrum
a small thin device (of metal or plastic or ivory) used to pluck a stringed instrument
PTO,
power takeoff
a device that transfers power from an engine (as in a tractor or other motor vehicle) to another piece of equipment (as to a pump or jackhammer)
goad,
prod
a pointed instrument that is used to prod into a state of motion
pull
a device used for pulling something
button,
release
a device that when pressed will release part of a mechanism
reset
device for resetting instruments or controls
router
(computer science) a device that forwards data packets between computer networks
runner
device consisting of the parts on which something can slide along
shoehorn
a device used for easing the foot into a shoe
shoetree
a wooden or metal device that is inserted into a shoe to preserve its shape when it is not being worn
shooting stick
device that resembles a spiked walking stick but the top opens into a seat
shredder
a device that shreds documents (usually in order to prevent the wrong people from reading them)
snowshoe
a device to help you walk on deep snow; a lightweight frame shaped like a racquet is strengthened with cross pieces and contains a network of thongs; one is worn on each foot
sounder
a device for making soundings
stemmer
a device for removing stems from fruit (as from grapes or apples)
stylus
a needle attached to the cartridge of a record player
suction cup
a cup-shaped device (made of rubber, glass, or plastic) that produces a partial vacuum; used to adhere or draw something to a surface
support
any device that bears the weight of another thing
sweatbox
a device that causes tobacco leaves or fruit or hides to sweat
synchroflash
a device used in photography to synchronize the peak of a flash with the opening of the camera shutter
take-up
any of various devices for reducing slack (as in a sewing machine) or taking up motion (as in a loom)
teaser
a device for teasing wool
tilter
a device for emptying a cask by tilting it without disturbing the dregs
pair of tongs,
tongs
any of various devices for taking hold of objects; usually have two hinged legs with handles above and pointed hooks below
toy
a device regarded as providing amusement
trap
a device in which something (usually an animal) can be caught and penned
trigger
a device that activates or releases or causes something to happen
valve
device in a brass wind instrument for varying the length of the air column to alter the pitch of a tone
vaporiser,
vaporizer
a device that puts out a substance in the form of a vapor (especially for medicinal inhalation)
ventilator
a device (such as a fan) that introduces fresh air or expels foul air
washboard
device consisting of a corrugated surface to scrub clothes on
water cooler
a device for cooling and dispensing drinking water
actuator
a mechanism that puts something into automatic action
aileron
an airfoil that controls lateral motion
air bag
a safety restraint in an automobile; the bag inflates on collision and prevents the driver or passenger from being thrown forward
airbrake,
dive brake
a small parachute or articulated flap to reduce the speed of an aircraft
ankus
an elephant goad with a sharp spike and a hook
annunciator
an indicator that announces which electrical circuit has been active (as on a telephone switchboard)
answering machine
an electronic device that answers the telephone and records messages
Aqua-Lung,
aqualung,
scuba
a device (trade name Aqua-Lung) that lets divers breathe under water; scuba is an acronym for self-contained underwater breathing apparatus
arrester,
arrester hook
a restraint that slows airplanes as they land on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier
assembly
a group of machine parts that fit together to form a self-contained unit
attenuator
an electrical device for attenuating the strength of an electrical signal
autofocus
an optical device for focussing a camera or other instrument automatically
back,
backrest
a support that you can lean against while sitting
backboard
a board used to support the back of someone or something
backing,
mount
something forming a back that is added for strengthening
bacteria bed
layer of sand or gravel used to expose sewage effluent to air and the action of microorganisms
bagger
a machine for putting objects or substances into bags
ballast,
light ballast
an electrical device for starting and regulating fluorescent and discharge lamps
baluster
one of a number of closely spaced supports for a railing
band
a restraint put around something to hold it together
bar
a horizontal rod that serves as a support for gymnasts as they perform exercises
bar magnet
a magnet in the form of a bar with magnetic poles at each end
bass
the member with the lowest range of a family of musical instruments
battery,
electric battery
a device that produces electricity; may have several primary or secondary cells arranged in parallel or series
bearing
a rotating support placed between moving parts to allow them to move easily
bearing wall
any wall supporting a floor or the roof of a building
bedpost
any of 4 vertical supports at the corners of a bedstead
beeper,
pager
an electronic device that generates a series of beeps when the person carrying it is being paged
bell
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
bellows
a mechanical device that blows a strong current of air; used to make a fire burn more fiercely or to sound a musical instrument
bellpull
a handle or cord that is pulled to ring a doorbell or a servant's bell etc.
Bessemer converter
a refractory-lined furnace used to convert pig iron into steel by the Bessemer process
bimetallic strip
a strip consisting of two metals that bends with a rise in temperature
biprism
an optical device for obtaining interference fringes
birdcall
a device for imitating a birdcall
bite plate,
biteplate
a removable dental appliance that is worn in the palate for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes
blade
the part of the skate that slides on the ice
bomb
an explosive device fused to explode under specific conditions
bookend
a support placed at the end of a row of books to keep them upright (on a shelf or table)
brace,
bracing
a structural member used to stiffen a framework
brace
a support that steadies or strengthens something else
brake
a restraint used to slow or stop a vehicle
brake
anything that slows or hinders a process
brake pad
one of the pads that apply friction to both sides of the brake disk
brake shoe,
shoe,
skid
a restraint provided when the brake linings are moved hydraulically against the brake drum to retard the wheel's rotation
brasier,
brazier
large metal container in which coal or charcoal is burned; warms people who must stay outside for long times
bridge
a wooden support that holds the strings up
brush
conducts current between rotating and stationary parts of a generator or motor
buffer,
buffer storage,
buffer store
(computer science) a part of RAM used for temporary storage of data that is waiting to be sent to a device; used to compensate for differences in the rate of flow of data between components of a computer system
burglar alarm
a warning device that is tripped off by the occurrence of a burglary
bus,
busbar
an electrical conductor that makes a common connection between several circuits
buzzer
a signaling device that makes a buzzing sound
calender
a machine that smooths or glazes paper or cloth by pressing it between plates or passing it through rollers
calliope,
steam organ
a musical instrument consisting of a series of steam whistles played from a keyboard
camera lucida
an optical device consisting of an attachment that enables an observer to view simultaneously the image and a drawing surface for sketching it
carriage
a machine part that carries something else
catalytic converter
a converter that uses a platinum-iridium catalyst to oxidize pollutants and carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide and water; an antipollution device on an automotive exhaust system
catch,
stop
a restraint that checks the motion of something
cauterant,
cautery
an instrument or substance used to destroy tissue for medical reasons (eg removal of a wart) by burning it with a hot iron or an electric current or a caustic or by freezing it
CD drive
a drive that reads a compact disc and that is connected to an audio system
CD-ROM drive
a drive that is connected to a computer and on which a CD-ROM can be `played'
cell,
electric cell
a device that delivers an electric current as the result of a chemical reaction
cervical cap
a contraceptive device consisting of a small thimble-shaped cup that is placed over the uterine cervix to prevent the entrance of spermatozoa
chain
anything that acts as a restraint