tool

1 of 3

noun (1)

1
a
: a handheld device that aids in accomplishing a task
b(1)
: the cutting or shaping part in a machine or machine tool
(2)
: a machine for shaping metal : machine tool
2
a
: something (such as an instrument or apparatus) used in performing an operation or necessary in the practice of a vocation or profession
a scholar's books are his tools
b
: an element of a computer program (such as a graphics application) that activates and controls a particular function
a drawing tool
c
: a means to an end
a book's cover can be a marketing tool
d
slang, vulgar : penis
3
a
: one who is used or manipulated by another
And then there was former trainer Pfeil, viewed as another tool of management for his gruff ways.Sam Smith
b
informal : a foolish or unlikable person : jerk
Before you compete on a reality TV show, you basically sign away your right to protect yourself from looking like a total tool in front of an international viewing audience.Steve Tilley
4
tools plural : natural ability
has all the tools to be a great pitcher

tool

2 of 3

verb

tooled; tooling; tools

intransitive verb

1
: drive, ride
2
: to equip a plant or industry with the means (such as machines, machine tools, and instruments) of production
often used with up

transitive verb

1
: to shape, form, or finish with a tool
especially : to letter or ornament (something, such as leather or gold) by means of hand tools
2
a
: to cause (a vehicle) to go : drive
b
: to convey in a vehicle
3
: to equip (a factory, an industry, etc.) with tools, machines, and instruments for production

tool

3 of 3

noun (2)

: a design (as on the binding of a book) made by tooling
Choose the Right Synonym for tool

implement, tool, instrument, appliance, utensil mean a relatively simple device for performing work.

implement may apply to anything necessary to perform a task.

crude stone implements
farm implements

tool suggests an implement adapted to facilitate a definite kind or stage of work and suggests the need of skill more strongly than implement.

a carpenter's tools

instrument suggests a device capable of delicate or precise work.

the dentist's instruments

appliance refers to a tool or instrument utilizing a power source and suggests portability or temporary attachment.

household appliances

utensil applies to a device used in domestic work or some routine unskilled activity.

kitchen utensils

Examples of tool in a Sentence

Verb We tooled along the highway. He tooled a design on the leather belt. a belt made of tooled leather
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
That Communist-era drama concerned a female taxi driver who’s similarly tooling around Bucharest, her misery equal to that of Manolache’s contemporary Angela, even though Jude’s protagonist seemingly lives in a freer society than the one once ruled by Nicolae Ceaușescu. Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024 Sculptor Jean Jinho Kim (the only local in the lineup) and painter Don Voisine offer pieces that are tooled with machine-like precision. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024 As far back as 200 million years ago, the fossil record shows us that hermit crabs were already tooling around shopping for homes discarded by mollusks. Popsci Staff, Popular Science, 28 Feb. 2024 Along the way, stop at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park to check out a pop-up event or let the kids run on the playground, pop into the Tampa Museum of Art for the latest exhibition, or rent a paddleboard from Urban Kai to tool around the Hillsborough River. Terry Ward, Travel + Leisure, 25 Feb. 2024 Robert Randolph was tooling around Florida when the call came. David Browne, Rolling Stone, 13 Feb. 2024 While in his mid-twenties, Olea would tool around the Key — or take a jaunt to Coconut Grove — with a carload of teenage girls. Clara-Sophia Daly, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2024 Most Tool songs do sound tooled—that is, painstakingly built, rather than written. Kelefa Sanneh, The New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2024 Each of the many phishing centers answers to Derek Danforth (Josh Hutcherson), a douchey 28-year-old rich-kid cokehead who tools around his office on a skateboard in extraordinarily ugly outfits (that puke-green suit!) and bad highlights. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Jan. 2024
Noun
OpenAI says Sora should be thought of as a tool for video creators, allowing filmmakers, video game engineers, and animators to do more. Maxwell Zeff / Gizmodo, Quartz, 14 Mar. 2024 In response, Gainer hit his sister in the arm with his hand, grabbed a gardening tool out of the yard and used the end to break glass on the front door, Lacy detailed. Cindy Von Quednow, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024 Terrorism is too infrequent in the U.S. to base risk on historical losses, but the department said catastrophe modeling could provide a tool to better assess that risk. John Woolfolk, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2024 Because of that, some doctors may calculate your risk from both tools to ensure a more well-rounded sense of your risk. Korin Miller, Health, 14 Mar. 2024 From Reddit’s earliest days, there have also been moderators who build tools to make the work easier, like u/creesch, who saw, early in his tenure as a mod, that Reddit’s mod tools were woefully underdeveloped. Paresh Dave, WIRED, 14 Mar. 2024 And creators of all stripes would have one fewer outlet for their work that offered unique tools and sensibilities. Jon Healey, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024 Every culture comes with its own set of beloved tools that are inextricable from the foods that define it. Naz Deravian, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2024 The new studio boasts state-of-the-art virtual production tools, including Hong Kong’s largest Samsung microLED display, technology from virtual production specialist Disguise, and solutions from ARRI, raising local virtual production standards significantly. Faye Bradley, Variety, 13 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tool.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English tōl; akin to Old English tawian to prepare for use — more at taw

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1812, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2a

Noun (2)

1881, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tool was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near tool

Cite this Entry

“Tool.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tool. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tool

1 of 2 noun
1
: a device (as a hammer, saw, knife, or wrench) used or worked by hand or by a machine
2
a
: something used in doing one's job as if it were a tool
a scholar's books are his tools
b
: something that helps to gain an end
hard work is a tool for success
3
: a person used by another : dupe

tool

2 of 2 verb
1
: to shape, form, or finish with a tool
2
: to equip a plant or industry with machines and tools for production

More from Merriam-Webster on tool

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