/ dɪˈvaɪs; NAmE / noun
1.
an object or a piece of equipment that has been designed to do a particular job :
a water-saving device
electrical labour-saving devices around the home
2.
a bomb or weapon that will explode :
A powerful device exploded outside the station.
the world's first atomic device
3.
a method of doing sth that produces a particular result or effect :
Sending advertising by email is very successful as a marketing device.
4.
a plan or trick that is used to get sth that sb wants :
The report was a device used to hide rather than reveal problems.
•
IDIOMS
- leave sb to their own devices
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French devis , based on Latin divis- divided, from the verb dividere . The original sense was desire or intention , found now only in leave someone to their own devices (which has become associated with sense 3).