appliance en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- /əˈplaɪ.əns/
Etymology
Recorded since the 1560s. From the English apply + -ance.
Meanings
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(countable, uncountable) An implement, an instrument or apparatus designed (or at least used) as a means to a specific end, especially
Canst thou, O partial sleep, give thy repose To the wet sea-boy in an hour so rude; And in the calmest and most stillest night, With all appliances and means to boot, Deny it to a king?
c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]. Epilogue.”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:“[…] Oh, the pipe! won’t you have it lit again, father?” said Eppie, lifting that medicinal appliance from the ground.
1861, George Eliot [pseudonym; Mary Ann Evans], chapter XVI, in Silas Marner: The Weaver of Raveloe, Edinburgh; London: William Blackwood and Sons, →OCLC:[…] sleeping life waiting to be spread and dispersed, every seed armed with an appliance of dispersal, twisting darts and parachutes for the wind, little spears and balls of tiny thorns, and all waiting for animals and for the wind, for a man’s trouser cuff or the hem of a woman’s skirt […]
1939, John Steinbeck, chapter 3, in The Grapes of Wrath, New York: Viking, page 20:
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(countable, uncountable) An implement, an instrument or apparatus designed (or at least used) as a means to a specific end, especially: ▸ A non-manual apparatus or device, powered electrically or by another small motor, used in homes to perform domestic functions (household appliance) and/or in offices.
I know I'm artificial But don't put the blame on me I was reared with appliances In a consumer society
1978, Poly Styrene, “Art-I-Ficial”, in Germ Free Adolescents, performed by X-Ray Spex:Many house fires are caused by faulty appliances, such as refrigerators, washing machines and dryers.
- (countable, uncountable) An implement, an instrument or apparatus designed (or at least used) as a means to a specific end, especially: ▸ An attachment, a piece of equipment to adapt another tool or machine to a specific purpose.
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(countable, obsolete, uncountable) The act of applying.
[T]he attention to fashion, the tasteful appliance of ornament in each portion of her dress, were quite in place with her: […]
1849, Currer Bell [pseudonym; Charlotte Brontë], “Whitsuntide”, in Shirley. A Tale. […], volume II, London: Smith, Elder and Co., […], →OCLC, page 127:1658, Elias Ashmole, The Way to Bliss, London: Nath. Brook, Book 2, Chapter 2 “Of Health,” p. 75, […] there be three things, and every one full of under-branches belonging to this Art and way of Healing: The first is knowledge of the Diseases: the second is the Remedies against them: and the third of the appliance of Remedies; All which should be traversed in this Discourse.
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(countable, obsolete, uncountable) A means of eliminating or counteracting something undesirable, especially an illness.
The wife of the labouring man does rear her children, and often rears them in health, without even so many appliances of comfort as found their way into Mrs. Crawley's cottage; but the task to her was almost more than she could accomplish.
1861, Anthony Trollope, Framley Parsonage:c. 1775, Thomas Hull, Moral Tales in Verse, London: George Cawthorn, 1797, Volume 2, “The Advantages of Repentance,” pp. 161-162, With charitable care They rais’d him up, and, by appliance meet, Quicken’d the pulse, and bade it flow anew.
Physician. Now I haue found you out, you are in loue. Jane. I thinke I am, what your appliance now? Can all your Paracelsian mixtures cure it, ’T must be a Surgeon of the Ciuill Law, I feare that must cure me.
1617, Thomas Middleton, William Rowley, A Fair Quarrel, London: I.T, act II, scene 1:So low he fell, that all appliances For his salvation were already short, Save showing him the people of perdition.
1867, Dante Alighieri, “The Divine Comedy”, in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, transl., Purgatory, Canto 30:[…] Diseases desperate grown By desperate appliance are reliev’d, Or not at all.
c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]:
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(countable, obsolete, rare, uncountable) Willing service, willingness to act as someone wishes.
And hearing your high majesty is touch’d With that malignant cause wherein the honour Of my dear father’s gift stands chief in power, I come to tender it and my appliance With all bound humbleness.
c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| appliances | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
appliance computer · appliancelike · white appliance · twin block appliance · fire appliance · applianced · Dahl appliance
Hyponyms
major appliance (Hyponyms of appliance) · domestic appliance (Hyponyms of appliance) · home appliance (Hyponyms of appliance) · notification appliance (Hyponyms of appliance) · household appliance (Hyponyms of appliance) · smart appliance (Hyponyms of appliance) · small appliance (Hyponyms of appliance)
Synonyms
remedy · cure · medicine · compliance · application
Translations (80)
ru устро́йство (a device in its own right) · es aparato (an implement, instrument or apparatus) · sv apparat (a device in its own right) · fi laite (a device in its own right) · jv ꦥꦶꦫꦤ꧀ꦠꦶ (a device in its own right) · mi pūrere (an implement, instrument or apparatus) · tr cihaz (an implement, instrument or apparatus) · bg у́ред (a device in its own right) · cmn 器械 (a device in its own right) · de Apparat (an implement, instrument or apparatus) · ko 기계 (a device in its own right) · be апара́т (a device in its own right) · de Haushaltsgerät (an implement, instrument or apparatus) · nl toestel (a device in its own right) · bg прибо́р (an implement, instrument or apparatus) · es electrodoméstico (a device in its own right) · nb husholdningsapparat (a device in its own right) · bg приспособле́ние (an implement, instrument or apparatus) · cy teclyn (an implement, instrument or apparatus) · mi pūrere (a device in its own right) · cmn 器具 (a device in its own right) · sv anordning (an implement, instrument or apparatus) · uk пристрі́й (a device in its own right) · ru прибо́р (an implement, instrument or apparatus) · es instrumento (an implement, instrument or apparatus) · be прыла́да (a device in its own right) · de Gerät (a device in its own right) · es implemento (an implement, instrument or apparatus) · uk апара́т (a device in its own right) · pt aparelho (a device in its own right) · nb anordning (a device in its own right) · hi उपकरण (an implement, instrument or apparatus) · fi laite (an implement, instrument or apparatus) · nb innretning (a device in its own right) · pt dispositivo (an implement, instrument or apparatus) · ru приспособле́ние (an implement, instrument or apparatus) · pt dispositivo (a device in its own right) · sh uređaj (a device in its own right) · tr aygıt (a device in its own right) · bg уре́д (an implement, instrument or apparatus) · fr appareil électrique (an implement, instrument or apparatus) · nn innretning (a device in its own right) · fr appareil (a device in its own right) · hi उपकरण (a device in its own right) · el συσκευή (a device in its own right) · mk апарат (a device in its own right) · tr cihaz (a device in its own right) · bg при́бор (a device in its own right) · jv ꦲꦭꦠ꧀ (a device in its own right) · jv ꦥꦼꦂꦏꦏꦱ꧀ (a device in its own right) · id peranti (a device in its own right) · ar جِهَاز (a device in its own right) · be прыбо́р (a device in its own right) · cmn 機器 /机器 (a device in its own right) · de Anordnung (an implement, instrument or apparatus) · ja 器具 (a device in its own right) · es enseres (an implement, instrument or apparatus) · ru прибо́р (a device in its own right) · sh sprava (a device in its own right) · tr aygıt (an implement, instrument or apparatus) · ja 機器 (a device in its own right) · ja 器械 (a device in its own right) · fi kodinkone (an implement, instrument or apparatus) · sv apparat (an implement, instrument or apparatus) · ka ხელსაწყო (a device in its own right) · de Apparat (a device in its own right) · de Vorrichtung (an implement, instrument or apparatus) · bg устро́йство (a device in its own right) · es aparato (a device in its own right) · mk уред (a device in its own right) · ko 기구 (a device in its own right) · bg апара́т (a device in its own right) · sv anordning (a device in its own right) · nl huishoudstoestel (a device in its own right) · ko 기구 (an implement, instrument or apparatus) · ru аппара́т (a device in its own right) · el συσκευή (an implement, instrument or apparatus) · da apparat (a device in its own right) · nb apparat (a device in its own right) · pl urządzenie (a device in its own right)