apparatus

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: ap=pa=rat=us

CIDE DICTIONARY

apparatus, n. [L., from apparare, apparatum, to prepare; ad + prepare to make ready.].

•  Things provided as means to some end.  [1913 Webster]
•  Hence: A full collection or set of implements, or utensils, for a given duty, experimental or operative; any complex instrument or appliance, mechanical or chemical, for a specific action or operation; machinery; mechanism.  [1913 Webster]
•  A collection of organs all of which unite in a common function; as, the respiratory apparatus.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

apparatus, n.
1 the equipment needed for a particular purpose or function, esp. scientific or technical.
2 a political or other complex organization.
3 Anat. the organs used to perform a particular process.
4 (in full apparatus criticus) a collection of variants and annotations accompanying a printed text and usu. appearing below it.

Etymology

L f. apparare apparat- make ready for

THESAURUS

apparatus

Bunsen burner, Erlenmeyer flask, Kipp generator, accouterments, alembic, appliance, appliances, appointments, appurtenances, armament, aspirator, bag and baggage, baggage, beaker, blowpipe, burette, capillary tube, condenser, contraption, contrivance, conveniences, crucible, deflagrating spoon, desiccator, device, distiller, duffel, dunnage, equipage, equipment, etna, facilities, facility, fittings, fixtures, furnishings, furniture, gadget, gear, gimcrack, gimmick, gizmo, habiliments, hand tool, impedimenta, implement, installations, instrument, kit, luggage, machine, machinery, materiel, matrass, means, mechanical device, munition, munitions, outfit, paraphernalia, pestle and mortar, pipette, plant, plumbing, power tool, precision balance, precision tool, provisions, reagent bottle, receiver, retort, rig, rigging, speed tool, still, stock-in-trade, supplies, tackle, tackling, test tube, things, tool, traps, utensil, utensils

ROGET THESAURUS

apparatus

Instrument

N instrument, machinery, mechanism, engineering, instrument, organ, tool, implement, utensil, machine, engine, lathe, gin, mill, air engine, caloric engine, heat engine, gear, tackle, tackling, rig, rigging, apparatus, appliances, plant, materiel, harness, trappings, fittings, accouterments, barde, equipment, equipmentage, appointments, furniture, upholstery, chattels, paraphernalia, mechanical powers, lever, leverage, mechanical advantage, crow, crowbar, handspike, gavelock, jemmy, jimmy, arm, limb, wing, oar, paddle, pulley, wheel and axle, wheelwork, clockwork, wheels within wheels, pinion, crank, winch, cam, pedal, capstan, wheel, inclined plane, wedge, screw, spring, mainspring, can hook, glut, heald, heddle, jenny, parbuckle, sprag, water wheel, handle, hilt, haft, shaft, heft, shank, blade, trigger, tiller, helm, treadle, key, turnscrew, screwdriver, knocker, hammer, edge tool, borer, vice, teeth, nail, rope, peg, support, spoon, arms, oar, cardiograph, recapper, snowplow, tenpenny, votograph, instrumental, mechanical, machinal, brachial.