| instrument | | |
| n. (artifact) | 1. instrument | a device that requires skill for proper use. |
| ~ analyser, analyzer | an instrument that performs analyses. |
| ~ cauterant, cautery | an instrument or substance used to destroy tissue for medical reasons (eg removal of a wart) by burning it with a hot iron or an electric current or a caustic or by freezing it. |
| ~ device | an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose.; "the device is small enough to wear on your wrist"; "a device intended to conserve water" |
| ~ drafting instrument | an instrument used by a draftsman in making drawings. |
| ~ engine | an instrument or machine that is used in warfare, such as a battering ram, catapult, artillery piece, etc..; "medieval engines of war" |
| ~ extractor | an instrument for extracting tight-fitting components. |
| ~ instrument of execution | an instrument designed and used to take the life of a condemned person. |
| ~ instrument of punishment | an instrument designed and used to punish a condemned person. |
| ~ measuring device, measuring instrument, measuring system | instrument that shows the extent or amount or quantity or degree of something. |
| ~ medical instrument | instrument used in the practice of medicine. |
| ~ navigational instrument | an instrument used for navigating. |
| ~ optical instrument | an instrument designed to aid vision. |
| ~ plotter | an instrument (usually driven by a computer) for drawing graphs or pictures. |
| ~ scientific instrument | an instrument used by scientists. |
| ~ sonograph | an instrument that uses the differential transmission and reflection of ultrasonic waves in order to provide an image of a bodily organ. |
| ~ surveying instrument, surveyor's instrument | an instrument used by surveyors. |
| ~ tracer | an instrument used to make tracings. |
| ~ weapon, weapon system, arm | any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting.; "he was licensed to carry a weapon" |
| ~ whip | an instrument with a handle and a flexible lash that is used for whipping. |
| n. (act) | 2. instrument, tool | the means whereby some act is accomplished.; "my greed was the instrument of my destruction"; "science has given us new tools to fight disease" |
| ~ means, way, agency | how a result is obtained or an end is achieved.; "a means of control"; "an example is the best agency of instruction"; "the true way to success" |
| n. (person) | 3. cat's-paw, instrument, pawn | a person used by another to gain an end. |
| ~ assistant, helper, help, supporter | a person who contributes to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose.; "my invaluable assistant"; "they hired additional help to finish the work" |
| n. (communication) | 4. instrument, legal document, legal instrument, official document | (law) a document that states some contractual relationship or grants some right. |
| ~ document, papers, written document | writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature). |
| ~ articles of incorporation | a legal document that creates a corporation; it is filed with a state by the founders of a corporation and is governed by the laws of the state. |
| ~ derivative instrument, derivative | a financial instrument whose value is based on another security. |
| ~ negotiable instrument | an unconditional order or promise to pay an amount of money. |
| ~ passport | a document issued by a country to a citizen allowing that person to travel abroad and re-enter the home country. |
| ~ ship's papers | official papers which a ship is legally required to have; related to ownership, cargo, etc.. |
| ~ manifest | a customs document listing the contents put on a ship or plane. |
| ~ debenture | a certificate or voucher acknowledging a debt. |
| ~ power of attorney | a legal instrument authorizing someone to act as the grantor's agent. |
| ~ letters of administration | legal document naming someone to administer an estate when no executor has been named. |
| ~ letters testamentary | a legal document from a probate court or court officer informing you of your appointment as executor of a will and empowering you to discharge those responsibilities. |
| ~ work papers, work permit, working papers | a legal document giving information required for employment of certain people in certain countries. |
| ~ act, enactment | a legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a committee or society or legislative body. |
| ~ law | legal document setting forth rules governing a particular kind of activity.; "there is a law against kidnapping" |
| ~ bill, measure | a statute in draft before it becomes law.; "they held a public hearing on the bill" |
| ~ brief, legal brief | a document stating the facts and points of law of a client's case. |
| ~ testament, will | a legal document declaring a person's wishes regarding the disposal of their property when they die. |
| ~ living will | a document written by someone still legally capable requesting that he should be allowed to die if subsequently severely disabled or suffering terminal illness.; "after he discovered he had AIDS he drew up a living will" |
| ~ deed, deed of conveyance, title | a legal document signed and sealed and delivered to effect a transfer of property and to show the legal right to possess it.; "he signed the deed"; "he kept the title to his car in the glove compartment" |
| ~ assignment | the instrument by which a claim or right or interest or property is transferred from one person to another. |
| ~ deed of trust, trust deed | a written instrument legally conveying property to a trustee often used to secure an obligation such as a mortgage or promissory note. |
| ~ conveyance | document effecting a property transfer. |
| ~ income tax return, return, tax return | document giving the tax collector information about the taxpayer's tax liability.; "his gross income was enough that he had to file a tax return" |
| ~ license, permit, licence | a legal document giving official permission to do something. |
| ~ letters patent, patent | an official document granting a right or privilege. |
| ~ judgement, legal opinion, opinion, judgment | the legal document stating the reasons for a judicial decision.; "opinions are usually written by a single judge" |
| ~ acquittance, release | a legal document evidencing the discharge of a debt or obligation. |
| ~ judicial writ, writ | (law) a legal document issued by a court or judicial officer. |
| ~ authorisation, authorization, mandate | a document giving an official instruction or command. |
| ~ affidavit | written declaration made under oath; a written statement sworn to be true before someone legally authorized to administer an oath. |
| ~ written agreement | a legal document summarizing the agreement between parties. |
| ~ bill of indictment, indictment | a formal document written for a prosecuting attorney charging a person with some offense. |
| ~ impeachment | a formal document charging a public official with misconduct in office. |
| ~ arraignment | a legal document calling someone to court to answer an indictment. |
| ~ law, jurisprudence | the collection of rules imposed by authority.; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order" |
| ~ certificate, security | a formal declaration that documents a fact of relevance to finance and investment; the holder has a right to receive interest or dividends.; "he held several valuable securities" |
| n. (communication) | 5. instrument, instrumental role | the semantic role of the entity (usually inanimate) that the agent uses to perform an action or start a process. |
| ~ participant role, semantic role | (linguistics) the underlying relation that a constituent has with the main verb in a clause. |
| n. (artifact) | 6. instrument, musical instrument | any of various devices or contrivances that can be used to produce musical tones or sounds. |
| ~ barrel organ, grind organ, hand organ, hurdy-gurdy, hurdy gurdy, street organ | a musical instrument that makes music by rotation of a cylinder studded with pegs. |
| ~ bass | the member with the lowest range of a family of musical instruments. |
| ~ steam organ, calliope | a musical instrument consisting of a series of steam whistles played from a keyboard. |
| ~ device | an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose.; "the device is small enough to wear on your wrist"; "a device intended to conserve water" |
| ~ electronic instrument, electronic musical instrument | a musical instrument that generates sounds electronically. |
| ~ jew's harp, jews' harp, mouth bow | a small lyre-shaped musical instrument that is placed between the teeth and played by twanging a wire tongue while changing the shape of the mouth cavity. |
| ~ keyboard instrument | a musical instrument that is played by means of a keyboard. |
| ~ music box, musical box | produces music by means of pins on a revolving cylinder that strike the tuned teeth of a comb-like metal plate. |
| ~ percussion instrument, percussive instrument | a musical instrument in which the sound is produced by one object striking another. |
| ~ stringed instrument | a musical instrument in which taut strings provide the source of sound. |
| ~ wind instrument, wind | a musical instrument in which the sound is produced by an enclosed column of air that is moved by the breath. |
| v. (possession) | 7. instrument | equip with instruments for measuring, recording, or controlling. |
| ~ equip, fit out, outfit, fit | provide with (something) usually for a specific purpose.; "The expedition was equipped with proper clothing, food, and other necessities" |
| v. (creation) | 8. instrument, instrumentate | write an instrumental score for. |
| ~ euphony, music | any agreeable (pleasing and harmonious) sounds.; "he fell asleep to the music of the wind chimes" |
| ~ compose, write | write music.; "Beethoven composed nine symphonies" |
| v. (communication) | 9. instrument | address a legal document to. |
| ~ address, direct | put an address on (an envelope). |
| kit | | |
| n. (artifact) | 1. kit | a case for containing a set of articles. |
| ~ case | a portable container for carrying several objects.; "the musicians left their instrument cases backstage" |
| ~ ditty bag | kit used by sailors and soldiers. |
| ~ toilet kit, travel kit | a kit for carrying toilet articles while traveling. |
| n. (artifact) | 2. kit, outfit | gear consisting of a set of articles or tools for a specified purpose. |
| ~ carpenter's kit, tool kit | a set of carpenter's tools. |
| ~ first-aid kit | kit consisting of a set of bandages and medicines for giving first aid. |
| ~ appurtenance, paraphernalia, gear | equipment consisting of miscellaneous articles needed for a particular operation or sport etc.. |
| ~ layette | kit consisting of a complete outfit (clothing and accessories) for a new baby. |
| ~ mess kit | kit containing a metal dish and eating utensils; used by soldiers and campers. |
| ~ sewing kit | a kit of articles used in sewing. |
| n. (animal) | 3. kit | young of any of various fur-bearing animals.; "a fox kit" |
| ~ young mammal | any immature mammal. |
| v. (possession) | 4. kit, kit out, kit up | supply with a set of articles or tools. |
| ~ equip, fit out, outfit, fit | provide with (something) usually for a specific purpose.; "The expedition was equipped with proper clothing, food, and other necessities" |
| tool | | |
| n. (artifact) | 1. tool | an implement used in the practice of a vocation. |
| ~ abrader, abradant | a tool or machine used for wearing down or smoothing or polishing. |
| ~ bender | a tool for bending.; "he used pliers as a bender" |
| ~ clincher | a tool used to clinch nails or bolts or rivets. |
| ~ comb | any of several tools for straightening fibers. |
| ~ cutting implement | a tool used for cutting or slicing. |
| ~ drill | a tool with a sharp point and cutting edges for making holes in hard materials (usually rotating rapidly or by repeated blows). |
| ~ eolith | a crude stone artifact (as a chipped flint); possibly the earliest tools. |
| ~ fork | an agricultural tool used for lifting or digging; has a handle and metal prongs. |
| ~ gang | tool consisting of a combination of implements arranged to work together. |
| ~ garden tool, lawn tool | used for working in gardens or yards. |
| ~ grapnel, grapple, grappling hook, grappling iron, grappler | a tool consisting of several hooks for grasping and holding; often thrown with a rope. |
| ~ hack | a tool (as a hoe or pick or mattock) used for breaking up the surface of the soil. |
| ~ hand tool | a tool used with workers' hands. |
| ~ hoe | a tool with a flat blade attached at right angles to a long handle. |
| ~ implement | instrumentation (a piece of equipment or tool) used to effect an end. |
| ~ jack | tool for exerting pressure or lifting. |
| ~ jaws of life | hydraulic tool inserted into a wrecked vehicle and used to pry the wreckage apart in order to provide access to people trapped inside. |
| ~ neolith | a stone tool from the Neolithic Age. |
| ~ paleolith | a stone tool from the Paleolithic age. |
| ~ pestle, pounder, muller | a heavy tool of stone or iron (usually with a flat base and a handle) that is used to grind and mix material (as grain or drugs or pigments) against a slab of stone. |
| ~ plow, plough | a farm tool having one or more heavy blades to break the soil and cut a furrow prior to sowing. |
| ~ power tool | a tool driven by a motor. |
| ~ punch, puncher | a tool for making holes or indentations. |
| ~ rake | a long-handled tool with a row of teeth at its head; used to move leaves or loosen soil. |
| ~ ram | a tool for driving or forcing something by impact. |
| ~ rounder | a tool for rounding corners or edges. |
| ~ saw set | a tool used to bend each alternate sawtooth at a slight angle outward. |
| ~ shaping tool | a tool for shaping metal. |
| ~ strickle | a tool used in a foundry to shape a mold in sand. |
| ~ stylus, style | a pointed tool for writing or drawing or engraving.; "he drew the design on the stencil with a steel stylus" |
| ~ tamp, tamper, tamping bar | a tool for tamping (e.g., for tamping tobacco into a pipe bowl or a charge into a drill hole etc.). |
| ~ tap | a tool for cutting female (internal) screw threads. |
| ~ swage, upset | a tool used to thicken or spread metal (the end of a bar or a rivet etc.) by forging or hammering or swaging. |
| n. (person) | 2. creature, puppet, tool | a person who is controlled by others and is used to perform unpleasant or dishonest tasks for someone else. |
| ~ slave | a person who is owned by someone. |
| n. (body) | 3. cock, dick, pecker, peter, prick, putz, shaft, tool | obscene terms for penis. |
| ~ penis, phallus, member | the male organ of copulation (`member' is a euphemism). |
| ~ dirty word, vulgarism, obscenity, filth, smut | an offensive or indecent word or phrase. |
| v. (motion) | 4. tool | drive.; "The convertible tooled down the street" |
| ~ drive | operate or control a vehicle.; "drive a car or bus"; "Can you drive this four-wheel truck?" |
| ~ joyride, tool around, tool | ride in a car with no particular goal and just for the pleasure of it.; "We tooled down the street" |
| v. (motion) | 5. joyride, tool, tool around | ride in a car with no particular goal and just for the pleasure of it.; "We tooled down the street" |
| ~ driving | the act of controlling and steering the movement of a vehicle or animal. |
| ~ ride | be carried or travel on or in a vehicle.; "I ride to work in a bus"; "He rides the subway downtown every day" |
| ~ tool | drive.; "The convertible tooled down the street" |
| v. (possession) | 6. tool | furnish with tools. |
| ~ furnish, provide, supply, render | give something useful or necessary to.; "We provided the room with an electrical heater" |
| v. (creation) | 7. tool | work with a tool. |
| ~ work on, work, process | shape, form, or improve a material.; "work stone into tools"; "process iron"; "work the metal" |
| utensil | | |
| n. (artifact) | 1. utensil | an implement for practical use (especially in a household). |
| ~ ceramic ware | utensils made from ceramic material. |
| ~ copperware | utensils made with copper. |
| ~ funnel | a conically shaped utensil having a narrow tube at the small end; used to channel the flow of substances into a container with a small mouth. |
| ~ implement | instrumentation (a piece of equipment or tool) used to effect an end. |
| ~ kitchen utensil | a utensil used in preparing food. |
| ~ server | utensil used in serving food or drink. |
| usage | | |
| n. (act) | 1. employment, exercise, usage, use, utilisation, utilization | the act of using.; "he warned against the use of narcotic drugs"; "skilled in the utilization of computers" |
| ~ activity | any specific behavior.; "they avoided all recreational activity" |
| ~ practice | the exercise of a profession.; "the practice of the law"; "I took over his practice when he retired" |
| ~ play | utilization or exercise.; "the play of the imagination" |
| ~ misuse, abuse | improper or excessive use.; "alcohol abuse"; "the abuse of public funds" |
| ~ exploitation, development | the act of making some area of land or water more profitable or productive or useful.; "the development of Alaskan resources"; "the exploitation of copper deposits" |
| ~ recycling | the act of processing used or abandoned materials for use in creating new products. |
| ~ application, practical application | the act of bringing something to bear; using it for a particular purpose.; "he advocated the application of statistics to the problem"; "a novel application of electronics to medical diagnosis" |
| n. (act) | 2. custom, usage, usance | accepted or habitual practice. |
| ~ practice, pattern | a customary way of operation or behavior.; "it is their practice to give annual raises"; "they changed their dietary pattern" |
| ~ americanism | a custom that is peculiar to the United States or its citizens. |
| ~ anglicism, britishism | a custom that is peculiar to England or its citizens. |
| ~ consuetude | a custom or usage that has acquired the force of law. |
| ~ couvade | a custom among some peoples whereby the husband of a pregnant wife is put to bed at the time of bearing the child. |
| ~ germanism | a custom that is peculiar to Germany or its citizens. |
| ~ habit, use | (psychology) an automatic pattern of behavior in reaction to a specific situation; may be inherited or acquired through frequent repetition.; "owls have nocturnal habits"; "she had a habit twirling the ends of her hair"; "long use had hardened him to it" |
| ~ hijab | the custom in some Islamic societies of women dressing modestly outside the home.; "she observes the hijab and does not wear tight clothing" |
| ~ survival | something that survives. |
| ~ ritual, rite | any customary observance or practice. |
| n. (communication) | 3. usage | the customary manner in which a language (or a form of a language) is spoken or written.; "English usage"; "a usage borrowed from French" |
| ~ language, linguistic communication | a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols.; "he taught foreign languages"; "the language introduced is standard throughout the text"; "the speed with which a program can be executed depends on the language in which it is written" |
| utility | | |
| n. (group) | 1. public utility, public utility company, public-service corporation, utility | a company that performs a public service; subject to government regulation. |
| ~ service | a company or agency that performs a public service; subject to government regulation. |
| ~ phone company, phone service, telco, telephone company, telephone service | a public utility that provides telephone service. |
| ~ electric company, light company, power company, power service | a public utility that provides electricity. |
| ~ water company, waterworks | a public utility that provides water. |
| ~ gas company, gas service | a public utility that provides gas. |
| ~ bus company, bus service | a public utility providing local transportation. |
| n. (attribute) | 2. usefulness, utility | the quality of being of practical use. |
| ~ quality | an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone.; "the quality of mercy is not strained" |
| ~ detergence, detergency | detergent quality; the quality of having cleansing power. |
| ~ function, purpose, use, role | what something is used for.; "the function of an auger is to bore holes"; "ballet is beautiful but what use is it?" |
| ~ helpfulness | the property of providing useful assistance. |
| ~ use | a particular service.; "he put his knowledge to good use"; "patrons have their uses" |
| ~ serviceability, serviceableness, usability, usableness, useableness | the quality of being able to provide good service. |
| ~ instrumentality | the quality of being instrumental for some purpose. |
| ~ practicality | concerned with actual use rather than theoretical possibilities. |
| ~ practicability, practicableness | the quality of being usable. |
| n. (act) | 3. utility | the service (electric power or water or transportation) provided by a public utility.; "the cost of utilities never decreases"; "all the utilities were lost after the hurricane" |
| ~ service | work done by one person or group that benefits another.; "budget separately for goods and services" |
| n. (quantity) | 4. utility | (economics) a measure that is to be maximized in any situation involving choice. |
| ~ economic science, economics, political economy | the branch of social science that deals with the production and distribution and consumption of goods and services and their management. |
| ~ system of measurement, metric | a system of related measures that facilitates the quantification of some particular characteristic. |
| ~ marginal utility | (economics) the amount that utility increases with an increase of one unit of an economic good or service. |
| n. (communication) | 5. service program, utility, utility program | (computer science) a program designed for general support of the processes of a computer.; "a computer system provides utility programs to perform the tasks needed by most users" |
| ~ computer science, computing | the branch of engineering science that studies (with the aid of computers) computable processes and structures. |
| ~ computer program, computer programme, programme, program | (computer science) a sequence of instructions that a computer can interpret and execute.; "the program required several hundred lines of code" |
| ~ device driver, driver | (computer science) a program that determines how a computer will communicate with a peripheral device. |
| ~ diagnostic program | a program that recognizes and explains faults in the equipment or mistakes in a computer program. |
| ~ input program | a utility program that organizes the input to a computer. |
| ~ output program | a utility program that organizes the output of a computer. |
| ~ sort program, sorting program | a utility program that sorts data items. |
| ~ trace program | a utility program that exhibits the sequence and results of executing the instructions in another program. |
| ~ service routine, utility routine | a routine that can be used as needed. |
| n. (artifact) | 6. utility | a facility composed of one or more pieces of equipment connected to or part of a structure and designed to provide a service such as heat or electricity or water or sewage disposal.; "the price of the house included all utilities" |
| ~ electrical plant, electrical system | utility that provides electricity. |
| ~ facility, installation | a building or place that provides a particular service or is used for a particular industry.; "the assembly plant is an enormous facility" |
| ~ heating plant, heating system, heating, heat | utility to warm a building.; "the heating system wasn't working"; "they have radiant heating" |
| ~ plumbing, plumbing system | utility consisting of the pipes and fixtures for the distribution of water or gas in a building and for the disposal of sewage. |
| adj. | 7. utility, utility-grade | used of beef; usable but inferior. |
| ~ inferior | of low or inferior quality. |
| adj. | 8. substitute, utility | capable of substituting in any of several positions on a team.; "a utility infielder" |
| ~ secondary | being of second rank or importance or value; not direct or immediate.; "the stone will be hauled to a secondary crusher"; "a secondary source"; "a secondary issue"; "secondary streams" |
| employ | | |
| n. (state) | 1. employ, employment | the state of being employed or having a job.; "they are looking for employment"; "he was in the employ of the city" |
| ~ state | the way something is with respect to its main attributes.; "the current state of knowledge"; "his state of health"; "in a weak financial state" |
| v. (consumption) | 2. apply, employ, use, utilise, utilize | put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose.; "use your head!"; "we only use Spanish at home"; "I can't use this tool"; "Apply a magnetic field here"; "This thinking was applied to many projects"; "How do you utilize this tool?"; "I apply this rule to get good results"; "use the plastic bags to store the food"; "He doesn't know how to use a computer" |
| ~ dedicate, devote, commit, consecrate, give | give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause.; "She committed herself to the work of God"; "give one's talents to a good cause"; "consecrate your life to the church" |
| ~ play | employ in a game or in a specific position.; "They played him on first base" |
| ~ play | use or move.; "I had to play my queen" |
| ~ pull out all the stops | use all resources available.; "The organizers pulled out all the stops for the centennial meeting" |
| ~ put, assign | attribute or give.; "She put too much emphasis on her the last statement"; "He put all his efforts into this job"; "The teacher put an interesting twist to the interpretation of the story" |
| ~ ply | use diligently.; "ply your wits!" |
| ~ address | address or apply oneself to something, direct one's efforts towards something, such as a question. |
| ~ waste | use inefficiently or inappropriately.; "waste heat"; "waste a joke on an unappreciative audience" |
| ~ misapply, misuse | apply to a wrong thing or person; apply badly or incorrectly.; "The words are misapplied in this context"; "You are misapplying the name of this religious group" |
| ~ avail | use to one's advantage.; "He availed himself of the available resources" |
| ~ overuse, overdrive | make use of too often or too extensively. |
| ~ cannibalise, cannibalize | use parts of something to repair something else. |
| ~ reprocess, reuse, recycle | use again after processing.; "We must recycle the cardboard boxes" |
| ~ exploit, work | use or manipulate to one's advantage.; "He exploit the new taxation system"; "She knows how to work the system"; "he works his parents for sympathy" |
| ~ exploit, tap | draw from; make good use of.; "we must exploit the resources we are given wisely" |
| ~ strain, extend | use to the utmost; exert vigorously or to full capacity.; "He really extended himself when he climbed Kilimanjaro"; "Don't strain your mind too much" |
| ~ exercise, exert | put to use.; "exert one's power or influence" |
| ~ enjoy | have benefit from.; "enjoy privileges" |
| ~ take | travel or go by means of a certain kind of transportation, or a certain route.; "He takes the bus to work"; "She takes Route 1 to Newark" |
| ~ share | use jointly or in common. |
| ~ put to work, work | cause to work.; "he is working his servants hard" |
| ~ implement | apply in a manner consistent with its purpose or design.; "implement a procedure" |
| ~ practice, use, apply | avail oneself to.; "apply a principle"; "practice a religion"; "use care when going down the stairs"; "use your common sense"; "practice non-violent resistance" |
| ~ resort, recur, fall back | have recourse to.; "The government resorted to rationing meat" |
| ~ go for, apply, hold | be pertinent or relevant or applicable.; "The same laws apply to you!"; "This theory holds for all irrational numbers"; "The same rules go for everyone" |
| v. (social) | 3. employ, engage, hire | engage or hire for work.; "They hired two new secretaries in the department"; "How many people has she employed?" |
| ~ featherbed | hire more workers than are necessary. |
| ~ fill | appoint someone to (a position or a job). |
| ~ engage | ask to represent; of legal counsel.; "I'm retaining a lawyer" |
| ~ ship | hire for work on a ship. |
| ~ sign on, sign up, contract, sign | engage by written agreement.; "They signed two new pitchers for the next season" |
| ~ rat | employ scabs or strike breakers in. |
| ~ farm out, subcontract, job | arranged for contracted work to be done by others. |
| use | | |
| n. (attribute) | 1. function, purpose, role, use | what something is used for.; "the function of an auger is to bore holes"; "ballet is beautiful but what use is it?" |
| ~ usefulness, utility | the quality of being of practical use. |
| ~ raison d'etre | the purpose that justifies a thing's existence. |
| n. (attribute) | 2. use | a particular service.; "he put his knowledge to good use"; "patrons have their uses" |
| ~ usefulness, utility | the quality of being of practical use. |
| n. (process) | 3. consumption, economic consumption, usance, use, use of goods and services | (economics) the utilization of economic goods to satisfy needs or in manufacturing.; "the consumption of energy has increased steadily" |
| ~ economic science, economics, political economy | the branch of social science that deals with the production and distribution and consumption of goods and services and their management. |
| ~ conspicuous consumption | buying expensive services and products in order to flaunt your wealth. |
| ~ demand | the ability and desire to purchase goods and services.; "the automobile reduced the demand for buggywhips"; "the demand exceeded the supply" |
| n. (act) | 4. habit, use | (psychology) an automatic pattern of behavior in reaction to a specific situation; may be inherited or acquired through frequent repetition.; "owls have nocturnal habits"; "she had a habit twirling the ends of her hair"; "long use had hardened him to it" |
| ~ custom, usage, usance | accepted or habitual practice. |
| ~ ritual | stereotyped behavior. |
| ~ second nature | acquired behavior that is practiced so long it seems innate. |
| ~ psychological science, psychology | the science of mental life. |
| ~ cleanliness | the habit of keeping free of superficial imperfections. |
| n. (act) | 5. manipulation, use | exerting shrewd or devious influence especially for one's own advantage.; "his manipulation of his friends was scandalous" |
| ~ influence | causing something without any direct or apparent effort. |
| ~ mind game | deliberate actions of calculated psychological manipulation intended to intimidate or confuse (usually for competitive advantage).; "football players try to play mind games with the opposition"; "the jeweler's mind game is to convince lovers that the size of a gemstone reflects the depth of their feelings" |
| n. (attribute) | 6. enjoyment, use | (law) the exercise of the legal right to enjoy the benefits of owning property.; "we were given the use of his boat" |
| ~ legal right | a right based in law. |
| ~ fair use | the conditions under which you can use material that is copyrighted by someone else without paying royalties. |
| ~ fruition | enjoyment derived from use or possession. |
| ~ law, jurisprudence | the collection of rules imposed by authority.; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order" |
| v. (consumption) | 7. habituate, use | take or consume (regularly or habitually).; "She uses drugs rarely" |
| ~ ingest, consume, have, take in, take | serve oneself to, or consume regularly.; "Have another bowl of chicken soup!"; "I don't take sugar in my coffee" |
| ~ tope, drink | drink excessive amounts of alcohol; be an alcoholic.; "The husband drinks and beats his wife" |
| ~ board | lodge and take meals (at). |
| v. (consumption) | 8. expend, use | use up, consume fully.; "The legislature expended its time on school questions" |
| ~ abuse, misuse, pervert | change the inherent purpose or function of something.; "Don't abuse the system"; "The director of the factory misused the funds intended for the health care of his workers" |
| ~ abuse | use wrongly or improperly or excessively.; "Her husband often abuses alcohol"; "while she was pregnant, she abused drugs" |
| ~ deplete, use up, wipe out, eat up, exhaust, run through, consume, eat | use up (resources or materials).; "this car consumes a lot of gas"; "We exhausted our savings"; "They run through 20 bottles of wine a week" |
| ~ spare | use frugally or carefully. |
| ~ take, use up, occupy | require (time or space).; "It took three hours to get to work this morning"; "This event occupied a very short time" |
| ~ squander, waste, blow | spend thoughtlessly; throw away.; "He wasted his inheritance on his insincere friends"; "You squandered the opportunity to get and advanced degree" |
| v. (social) | 9. use | seek or achieve an end by using to one's advantage.; "She uses her influential friends to get jobs"; "The president's wife used her good connections" |
| ~ exploit, work | use or manipulate to one's advantage.; "He exploit the new taxation system"; "She knows how to work the system"; "he works his parents for sympathy" |
| ~ take advantage, trespass | make excessive use of.; "You are taking advantage of my good will!"; "She is trespassing upon my privacy" |
| v. (social) | 10. apply, practice, use | avail oneself to.; "apply a principle"; "practice a religion"; "use care when going down the stairs"; "use your common sense"; "practice non-violent resistance" |
| ~ apply, employ, use, utilise, utilize | put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose.; "use your head!"; "we only use Spanish at home"; "I can't use this tool"; "Apply a magnetic field here"; "This thinking was applied to many projects"; "How do you utilize this tool?"; "I apply this rule to get good results"; "use the plastic bags to store the food"; "He doesn't know how to use a computer" |
| ~ follow | adhere to or practice.; "These people still follow the laws of their ancient religion" |
| v. (social) | 11. use | habitually do something (use only in the past tense).; "She used to call her mother every week but now she calls only occasionally"; "I used to get sick when I ate in that dining hall"; "They used to vacation in the Bahamas" |
| ~ act, move | perform an action, or work out or perform (an action).; "think before you act"; "We must move quickly"; "The governor should act on the new energy bill"; "The nanny acted quickly by grabbing the toddler and covering him with a wet towel" |
| utilize | | |
| v. (change) | 1. utilize | convert (from an investment trust to a unit trust). |
| ~ exchange, convert, commute, change | exchange or replace with another, usually of the same kind or category.; "Could you convert my dollars into pounds?"; "He changed his name"; "convert centimeters into inches"; "convert holdings into shares" |
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