apparatus


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ap·pa·rat·us

 (ăp′ə-răt′əs, -rā′təs)
n. pl. apparatus or ap·pa·rat·us·es
1.
a. An appliance or device for a particular purpose: an x-ray apparatus.
b. An integrated group of materials or devices used for a particular purpose: dental apparatus. See Synonyms at equipment.
2.
a. The totality of means by which a designated function is performed or a specific task executed, as in a system of government.
b. A political organization or an underground political movement. Also called apparat.
3. Physiology A group or system of organs that collectively perform a specific function or process: the respiratory apparatus; the digestive apparatus.
4. The critical and source material, usually including notes and a glossary, that accompanies a scholarly edition of a text.

[Latin apparātus, preparation, from past participle of apparāre, to prepare : ad-, ad- + parāre, to prepare; see perə- in Indo-European roots.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

apparatus

(ˌæpəˈreɪtəs; -ˈrɑːtəs; ˈæpəˌreɪtəs)
n, pl -ratus or -ratuses
1. (General Engineering) a collection of instruments, machines, tools, parts, or other equipment used for a particular purpose
2. (General Engineering) a machine having a specific function: breathing apparatus.
3. the means by which something operates; organization: the apparatus of government.
4. (Anatomy) anatomy any group of organs having a specific function
[C17: from Latin, from apparāre to make ready]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ap•pa•rat•us

(ˌæp əˈræt əs, -ˈreɪ təs)

n., pl. -tus, -tus•es.
1. a group or combination of instruments, machinery, tools, or materials having a particular function: firefighting apparatus.
2. any complex instrument or mechanism for a particular purpose: the body's digestive apparatus.
3. the means by which a system functions: the apparatus of government.
[1620–30; < Latin apparātus <apparāre to prepare]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.apparatus - equipment designed to serve a specific functionapparatus - equipment designed to serve a specific function
aerator - an apparatus for exposing something to the air (as sewage)
burner - an apparatus for burning fuel (or refuse); "a diesel engine is an oil burner"
cascade liquefier - an apparatus used to liquefy air or oxygen etc.
centrifuge, separator, extractor - an apparatus that uses centrifugal force to separate particles from a suspension
chemical reactor - an apparatus for holding substances that are undergoing a chemical reaction
condenser - an apparatus that converts vapor into liquid
copier, duplicator - apparatus that makes copies of typed, written or drawn material
electrograph - an apparatus for the electrical transmission of pictures
equipment - an instrumentality needed for an undertaking or to perform a service
generator - an apparatus that produces a vapor or gas
heat pump - apparatus that extracts heat from a liquid that is at a higher temperature than its surroundings; can be used to transfer heat from a reservoir outside in order to heat a building
heliograph - an apparatus for sending telegraphic messages by using a mirror to turn the sun's rays off and on
brooder, incubator - apparatus consisting of a box designed to maintain a constant temperature by the use of a thermostat; used for chicks or premature infants
instillator - medical apparatus that puts a liquid into a cavity drop by drop
Kipp's apparatus - a laboratory apparatus for producing a gas (usually hydrogen sulfide) by the action of a liquid on a solid without heating
lighting - apparatus for supplying artificial light effects for the stage or a film
nuclear reactor, reactor - (physics) any of several kinds of apparatus that maintain and control a nuclear reaction for the production of energy or artificial elements
optical bench - apparatus for observation and measurement of optical phenomena
pendulum - an apparatus consisting of an object mounted so that it swings freely under the influence of gravity
purifier - an apparatus for removing impurities
reformer - an apparatus that reforms the molecular structure of hydrocarbons to produce richer fuel; "a catalytic reformer"
semaphore - an apparatus for visual signaling with lights or mechanically moving arms
sequenator, sequencer - (chemistry) an apparatus that can determine the sequence of monomers in a polymer
soda fountain - an apparatus for dispensing soda water
still - an apparatus used for the distillation of liquids; consists of a vessel in which a substance is vaporized by heat and a condenser where the vapor is condensed
submersible - an apparatus intended for use under water
telegraph, telegraphy - apparatus used to communicate at a distance over a wire (usually in Morse code)
titrator - an apparatus for performing a titration
X-ray machine - an apparatus that provides a source of X rays
2.apparatus - (anatomy) a group of body parts that work together to perform a given functionapparatus - (anatomy) a group of body parts that work together to perform a given function; "the breathing apparatus"
body part - any part of an organism such as an organ or extremity
auditory apparatus - all of the components of the organ of hearing including the outer and middle and inner ears
anatomy, general anatomy - the branch of morphology that deals with the structure of animals
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

apparatus

noun
1. organization, system, network, structure, bureaucracy, hierarchy, setup (informal), chain of command a massive bureaucratic apparatus
2. equipment, machine, tackle, gear, means, materials, device, tools, implements, mechanism, outfit, machinery, appliance, utensils, contraption (informal) He was rescued by firemen wearing breathing apparatus.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

apparatus

noun
1. Something, as a machine, devised for a particular function:
2. Things needed for a task, journey, or other purpose:
accouterment (often used in plural), equipment, gear, material (used in plural), materiel, outfit, paraphernalia, rig, tackle, thing (used in plural), turnout.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
přístrojzařízenínářadí
apparatredskabudstyr
laite
instrument
tæki, áhöld, vélbúnaîur
器具
기구
aparatasprietaisas
aparātsaparatūra
naprava
apparat
เครื่องมือ
cơ cấu tổ chức

apparatus

[ˌæpəˈreɪtəs] (apparatus (apparatuses (pl))) N
1. (Anat, Mech) → aparato m; (= set of instruments) → equipo m
2. (fig) (= system) → sistema m, aparato m
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

apparatus

[ˌæpəˈreɪtəs] n
(= equipment) → appareil m
a piece of apparatus → un appareil
(in gymnasium)agrès mpl
(fig) [organization, system] → dispositif m
the apparatus of government → le dispositif gouvernemental
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

apparatus

n (lit, fig)Apparat m; (= equipment also)Ausrüstung f; (in gym) → Geräte pl; a piece of apparatusein Gerät nt; the apparatus of governmentder Regierungsapparat
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

apparatus

[ˌæpəˈreɪtəs] n (for heating) → impianto; (for filming, camping, in gym) → attrezzatura; (in lab) → strumenti mpl (Anat) → apparato; (system) → sistema m
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

apparatus

(ӕpəˈreitəs) plurals ˌappaˈratus ~ˌappaˈratuses noun
machinery, tools or equipment. chemical apparatus; gymnastic apparatus.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.

apparatus

جِهَاز přístroj apparat Apparat εξοπλισμός aparato laite appareil instrument attrezzatura 器具 기구 apparaat apparat sprzęt aparelho аппарат apparat เครื่องมือ aygıt cơ cấu tổ chức 机构
Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009

apparatus

n (pl -tuses) aparato
English-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
References in classic literature ?
Geometrical Details.--Calculation of the Capacity of the Balloon.--The Double Receptacle.--The Covering.--The Car.--The Mysterious Apparatus. --The Provisions and Stores.--The Final Summing up.
The doctor, according to very accurate calculations, found that, including the articles indispensable to his journey and his apparatus, he should have to carry a weight of 4,000 pounds; therefore he had to find out what would be the ascensional force of a balloon capable of raising such a weight, and, consequently, what would be its capacity.
Before going to Tuskegee I had expected to find there a building and all the necessary apparatus ready for me to begin teaching.
Until 1878 all Bell telephone apparatus was made by Watson in Charles Williams's little shop in Court Street, Boston--a building long since transformed into a five-cent theatre.
The gas gave sufficient heat for the culinary apparatus, and the provision box furnished the elements of this first feast.
She could not recall a line of them, for Jove had decreed that the memory of them abide in Pluto's painful domain, as a part of the apparatus.
The fire from the vessels was most ineffectual, owing, as I afterward learned, to the unexpected suddenness of the first volley, which caught the ship's crews entirely unprepared and the sighting apparatus of the guns unprotected from the deadly aim of our warriors.
It lights, warms it, and is the soul of my mechanical apparatus. This agent is electricity."
Strange as it may seem to a human being, all the complex apparatus of digestion, which makes up the bulk of our bodies, did not exist in the Martians.
And I don't believe there's another destroyer yet fitted with this apparatus, whatever it may be."
It was a sturdy piece of apparatus, and it had acquired a kind of documentary value in these quick-changing times; it was now nearly eight years old.
And on that night Emil Gluck, alone, with all his apparatus on board, was out in a launch.