ə̇ˈkwipmənt, ēˈ- noun
( -s )
1.
a. : the equipping of a person or thing
the development and equipment of a library extension program
b. : the state of being equipped
the institution did not spring in full maturity and equipment — J.H.Burton
2.
a. : the physical resources serving to equip a person or thing
funds for buildings and equipment
the vocal equipment of a singer
a new jail became part of the municipal equipment — American Guide Series: Virginia
as
(1) : the implements (as machinery or tools) used in an operation or activity : apparatus
where a tractor is standard equipment
sports equipment
(2) : all the fixed assets other than land and buildings of a business enterprise
the plant, equipment , and supplies of the factory
(3) : the rolling stock of a railway
b. : a collection of such equipment
having its own uniform, flag, and … a standardized equipment — S.B.Fay
c. : a piece of such equipment
manufactured … an air-conditioning equipment for beds — Current Biography
in what a desperate condition the Virginia troops were as regarded clothing and equipments — H.E.Scudder
3.
a. : mental or emotional traits or resources
prejudice, intolerance, and bigotry … soon become a part of a child's equipment — Episcopal Churchnews
: preparation
some knowledge of the facts of biology should be an essential part of the equipment of every educated man — Nineteenth Century & After
b. : an aspect of one's mental or emotional makeup : endowment
a ready repartee is also a valuable equipment for anyone seeking high office — V.L.Albjerg
Synonyms:
equipment , apparatus , machinery , paraphernalia , outfit , tackle , gear , mat é riel can signify, in common, all the things used in a given work or useful in effecting a given end. equipment usually covers everything, except personnel, needed for efficient operation or service, often applying also to human qualities and skills useful in this way
the marines took with them full combat equipment, including tanks, artillery, jeeps, trucks, and flamethrowers — Time
other equipment in the park includes tables, benches, and playground apparatus — American Guide Series: Minnesota
the only essential equipment for softball is a bat and a ball — J.H.Shaw
innate equipment of the child (sensory, neural and glandular) — Psychological Abstracts
the heroine, typically named Virginia, has no equipment for life but loveliness and innocence — Carl Van Doren
apparatus , a very general term, usually in this connection covers instruments, tools, machines, and appliances used in a craft or profession, or the equipment used in a sport or recreation, or, more generally, any contrivance or device or set of them commonly used in any activity
a collection of safecracking apparatus
drill, X-ray machine, and other dental apparatus
punitive apparatus — bilboes, stocks, pillories, and ducking stools — American Guide Series: Massachusetts
she had insisted on leaving in his room the materials and apparatus for a light meal — Arnold Bennett
machinery covers all devices, means, or agencies which permit a thing to function or accomplish an end
the machinery of criminal identification
the treaty must be given the kind of machinery which will permit it to operate efficiently — New Republic
the machinery of advertising and propaganda — Jerome Stone
the machinery of recruitment — written examinations, interviews, internal promotions or transfers — Times Literary Supplement
paraphernalia , sometimes contemptuous in implication, usually suggests a collection of miscellaneous articles or belongings constituting the usual, often necessary, appurtenances of a particular activity or person engaged in it
a golden chalice, vestments and cruets, all the paraphernalia for celebrating Mass — Willa Cather
family allowances, maternity grants, and all the paraphernalia of social security — Roy Lewis & Angus Maude
little piles of wheels, strips of unworked iron and steel, blocks of wood, the paraphernalia of the inventor's trade — Sherwood Anderson
the chivalric romances … are of course replete with adventure of every kind: warlike knight-errantry, magic forests and fountains, enchanted castles, magicians, and all the other paraphernalia — R.A.Hall b. 1911
outfit is more colloquially interchangeable with equipment but generally is confined to the personal effects necessary for a given occupation, recreation, function, or type of life
a fireman's outfit
a camper's outfit consisting of high boots, poncho, sleeping bag, and cooking utensils
a college girl's outfit
a bride's outfit
a soldier's outfit
tackle is colloquially interchangeable with apparatus
toothbrush and shaving tackle in the bedroom — Graham Greene
or equipment
fishing tackle
gear may be interchangeable with equipment , often transportable equipment or luggage
housekeeping gear — Dorothy C. Fisher
we had a collapsible stage that broke down into boxes and battens and about a ton of gear which travelled with us in a large ancient but very game delivery van — Barry Carman
we gathered together our gear and prepared to make our way back to the railroad station — Thomas Barbour
or with outfit , often in specific reference to wearing apparel
when cowboy gear became so popular — D.C.Morrill
or may signify one's belongings collectively
the student immediately stowed all his gear in his new room
mat é riel , confined usually to military or industrial use, is a comprehensive term to designate everything but the personnel
a heavy drain on both the manpower and matériel resources — New York Times
the latest developments in artillery matériel — Combat Forces Journal