1 an object or a piece of equipment that has been designed to do a particular job:
a water-saving device * This portable device enables deaf people to telephone the hospital by typing a message instead of speaking. * electrical labour-saving devices around the home
2 a bomb or weapon that will explode:
A powerful device exploded outside the station. * the world's first atomic device
3 a method of doing sth that produces a particular result or effect:
Sending advertising by mail is very successful as a marketing device.
4 a plan or trick that is used to get sth that sb wants:
The report was a device used to hide rather than reveal problems.
IDIOMS
leave sb to their own devices to leave sb alone to do as they wish, and not tell them what to do
