appliance

ap·pli·ance

noun \ə-ˈplī-ən(t)s\

Definition of APPLIANCE

1

: an act of applying

2

a : a piece of equipment for adapting a tool or machine to a special purpose : attachment b : an instrument or device designed for a particular use or function <an orthodontic appliance>; specifically : a household or office device (as a stove, fan, or refrigerator) operated by gas or electric current c British : fire engine

3

obsolete : compliance

Examples of APPLIANCE

1. All household appliances are now on sale.
2. <since the invention of the cork, all manner of appliances have been invented for the extraction of these sometimes troublesome stoppers>

First Known Use of APPLIANCE

1561

Related to APPLIANCE

Synonyms: gadget, contraption, contrivance, gimmick, gizmo (also gismo), jigger, widget

Related Words: implement, instrument, tool, utensil; ingenuity, innovation, invention; accessory (also accessary), adjunct; mechanism, trick; dingus, doodad, doohickey, hickey, hootenanny [chiefly dialect], thingamabob, thingamajig (or thingumajig), thingummy

Near Antonyms: essential, necessity, requirement, requisite

see all synonyms and antonyms

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See Synonym Discussion at implement

Rhymes with APPLIANCE

affiance, nonscience