a device or control that is very useful for a particular job
artifact noun (man-made objects)
widgets
device » instrumentality » artifact » whole
appliance | contraption | contrivance | convenience | conveniency | gadget | gismo | gizmo
Coined by George S. Kaufman in his play Beggar on Horseback (1924). | Borrowed...
(Source: Wiktionary) [more]
([informal, often facetious, insulting] a device or contrivance, especially one considered strange, unnecessarily intricate, or improvised (16 of 483 words, 9 usage examples, pronunciation)
www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/contraption
may refer to: a contraption; a machine, device or gadget | Contraption, a British electronica band | Contraption, a German Heavy metal music band | Contraption (game show), a game show formerly broadcast on the Disney Channel | Circus Contraption, a ... (37 of 112 words, 6 definitions)
"device", "gadget" (2 of 86 words, 1 usage example, pronunciation)
a machine or device that appears strange or unnecessarily complicated, and often badly made or unsafe (16 of 69 words, 1 usage example, pronunciation)
a machine or piece of equipment, especially one that looks strange or complicated (13 of 38 words, pronunciation)
www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/contraption
a device or machine that looks awkward or old-fashioned, especially one that you do not know how to use (19 of 32 words, 1 usage example, pronunciation)
dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/contraption
A machine that is complicated and precarious. | [figurative, derogatory or sarcastic] Any object. (13 of 29 words, 2 definitions, 1 usage example, pronunciation)
a device or machine regarded as strange, incomprehensible, makeshift, etc.; contrivance or gadget (13 of 22 words, pronunciation)
A mechanical device; a gadget. (5 of 16 words, pronunciation)
a mechanical contrivance; gadget; device. (5 of 11 words, pronunciation)
widely used type of Internet-based consumer software, particularly popular on social networking sites, that runs within a member's profile page. ... (20 of 93 words)
a device or machine, especially one that appears strange or improvised (11 of 38 words, pronunciation)
encarta.msn.com/dictionary 1861599993/definition.html [offline]
Origin: Coined by George S. Kaufman in his play Beggar on Horseback (1924). | Borrowed as a shortened form of "window gadget"
en.wiktionary.org/wiki/widget
Origin: Unknown. First used in print by Robert Brown in 1886 (see quote in definition section). Might come from French gâchette or gagée.
First use: about 1920
Origin: "gadget, small manufactured item", American English, probably an alteration of "gadget", perhaps based on which it.
www.etymonline.com/index.php term=widget
First use: 1886
Origin: gadjet (but said to date back to 1850s), sailors' slang word for any small mechanical thing or part of a ship for which they lacked, or forgot, ... (28 of 47 etymology words)
First use: 1930s
Origin: perhaps an alteration of "gadget"
oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/widget
First use: late 19th century
Origin: (originally in nautical use): probably from French gâchette "lock mechanism" or from the French dialect word gagée "tool"
First use: 20th century
Origin: changed from gadget
www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/widget
First use: 19th century
Origin: perhaps from French gâchette lock catch, trigger, diminutive of gâche staple
First use: 1926
Origin: alteration of gadget
www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/widget
First use: 1886
Origin: unknown
Origin: altered from "gadget"
www.yourdictionary.com/widget
Origin: perhaps French gâchette, catch (of a lock), tumbler, diminutive of gâche, a bolt, catch
Audio: North American English pronunciation of "widget"
www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/widget
Audio: British English pronunciation of "widget"
www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/widget
Audio: North American pronunciation of "widget"
www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/american/widget
Audio 1: British English pronunuciation of "widget"
Audio 2: North American English pronunuciation of "widget"
dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/widget
Audio 1: British English pronunuciation of "gadget"
Audio 1: North American English pronunciation of "widget"
Audio 2: British English pronunciation of "widget"
Audio 3: North American English pronunciation of "widget" by speech synthesizer
www.thefreedictionary.com/widget
Audio 1: North American English pronunciation of "gadget"
Audio 2: British English pronunciation of "gadget"
Audio 3: North American English pronunciation of "gadget" by speech synthesizer
Audio: English pronunciation of "widget"
www.google.com/#hl=en&tbs=dfn:1&fp=1&q=widget
Audio: North American pronunciation of "widget"
www.merriam-webster.com/audio.php file=widget01 word=widget
Audio: North American pronunciation of "gadget"
www.merriam-webster.com/audio.php file=gadget01 word=gadget
Audio: North American English pronunciation of "widget"
www.yourdictionary.com/widget
Audio: North American English pronunciation of "gadget" by speech synthesizer
Page last updated: 2013-06-26