tool

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (transitive)
• COUNT in NET: 7 in 7 verses (in OT : 7 in 7 verses)

CIDE DICTIONARY

tool, n. [OE. tol,tool. AS. t; akin to Icel. t, Goth. taijan to do, to make, taui deed, work, and perhaps to E. taw to dress leather.

•  An instrument such as a hammer, saw, plane, file, and the like, used in the manual arts, to facilitate mechanical operations; any instrument used by a craftsman or laborer at his work; an implement; as, the tools of a joiner, smith, shoe-maker, etc.; also, a cutter, chisel, or other part of an instrument or machine that dresses work.  [1913 Webster]
•  A machine for cutting or shaping materials; -- also called machine tool.  [1913 Webster]
•  Hence, any instrument of use or service.  [1913 Webster]

  "That angry fool . . .
  Whipping her horse, did with his smarting tool
  Oft whip her dainty self."  [1913 Webster]
•  A weapon.  [1913 Webster]

  "Him that is aghast of every tool."  [1913 Webster]
•  A person used as an instrument by another person; -- a word of reproach; as, men of intrigue have their tools, by whose agency they accomplish their purposes.  [1913 Webster]

  "I was not made for a minion or a tool."  [1913 Webster]

tool, v. t. 

•  To shape, form, or finish with a tool.  Ld. Lytton.  [1913 Webster]
•  To drive, as a coach.  [1913 Webster]

tool, v. i. [Cf. Tool, v. t., 2.].

 To travel in a vehicle; to ride or drive.
"Boys on their bicycles tooling along the well-kept roads."  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

tool, n. & v.
--n.
1 any device or implement used to carry out mechanical functions whether manually or by a machine.
2 a thing used in an occupation or pursuit (the tools of one's trade; literary tools).
3 a person used as a mere instrument by another.
4 coarse sl. the penis.

Idiom

tool-box a box or container for keeping tools in. tool-pusher a worker directing the drilling on an oil rig. tool up
1 sl. arm oneself.
2 equip oneself.

Usage

Usually considered a taboo use.
5 a a distinct figure in the tooling of a book. b a small stamp or roller used to make this.
--v.tr.
1 dress (stone) with a chisel.
2 impress a design on (a leather book-cover).
3 (foll. by along, around, etc.) sl. drive or ride, esp. in a casual or leisurely manner.
4 (often foll. by up) equip with tools.

Derivative

tooler n.

Etymology

OE tol f. Gmc

THESAURUS

tool

Charlie McCarthy, Federal, T square, adz, agency, agent, aid, amanuensis, ancilla, apparatus, apple-polisher, appliance, ass-licker, auto, autolithograph, avenue, awl, ax, backscratcher, backslapper, baggage agent, bale breaker, bar, battering ram, be a printmaker, bevel, bevel square, bodkin, bootlick, bootlicker, bradawl, bread knife, brown-nose, brownie, buffer, bushwhacker, business agent, butcher knife, calipers, cant hook, carve, carving knife, caulking iron, center punch, character, charioteer, chaser, chisel, chuck, chump, claim agent, clamp, clasp, clawback, cleaver, clerk, clinch, clip, clipper, clippers, commercial agent, commission agent, consignee, contraption, contrivance, courtier, cramp, crease, creature, cribble, cringer, crosshatch, crowbar, customer agent, cut, dagger, decorate, device, dibble, dividers, dog, dress, dummy, dupe, edger, electric sander, electric soldering iron, embellish, enchase, engrave, factor, fawner, fed, federal agent, file, flail, flatterer, flunky, footlicker, forceps, fork, freight agent, functionary, furrow, gadget, general agent, gimmick, gizmo, go-between, gouge, grab, grapnel, grapple, grappler, grappling iron, grave, grease gun, grindstone, grip, groove, groveler, hack, handmaid, handmaiden, handshaker, hatch, hatchet, hawk, helot, hireling, hoe, holdfast, hook, hunting knife, implement, incise, inscribe, instrument, instrumentality, insurance agent, interagent, intermediary, intermediate, intermedium, jack, jackal, jackknife, jackscrew, jaws, jointer, knife, kowtower, lackey, lance, lancet, land agent, lathe, law agent, led captain, letter-opener, level, lever, lickspit, lickspittle, line, literary agent, lithograph, loan agent, machete, machine, make prints, mark, mattock, mealymouth, means, mechanism, mechanize, mediator, medium, midwife, mill, minion, miter box, motor, motorize, nail file, nail puller, news agent, nippers, official, organ, ornament, palette knife, paper clip, paper cutter, paper knife, paring knife, parliamentary agent, passenger agent, pawn, peavey, penknife, peon, pick, pickax, pilot, pincers, pinch bar, pitchfork, planer, plaything, pliers, plowshare, press agent, print, puller, punch, punch pliers, puncheon, puppet, purchasing agent, putty knife, ram, rammer, ramrod, razor, razor blade, real estate agent, retool, ripping bar, road, sales agent, saw knife, sax, scalpel, scissors, scoop, score, scrape, scraper, scratch, screwdriver, scuffle hoe, sculpture, scythe, secretary, serf, servant, shape, shaper, share, sharpen, shears, sheath knife, sickle, sidecutters, slave, snips, soldering iron, spaniel, spatula, spear, special agent, spokeshave, square, stapler, station agent, steward, stipple, stooge, suck, sucker, surgical knife, sword, sycophant, table knife, tackle, tamp, tamper, tamping pick, tap, theatrical agent, ticket agent, timeserver, tire iron, tire tool, toad, toady, tongs, toy, travel agent, truckler, tufthunter, tweezers, utensil, vehicle, vise, walking delegate, way, weapon, wedge, wheel, work, wrecking bar, wrench, yes-man

ROGET THESAURUS

tool

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.

Direction

VB direct, manage, govern, conduct, order, prescribe, cut out work for, bead, lead, lead the way, show the way, take the lead, lead on, regulate, guide, steer, pilot, tackle, take the helm, be at the helm, have the reins, handle the reins, hold the reins, take the reins, drive, tool, superintend, supervise, overlook, control, keep in order, look after, see to, legislate for, administer, ministrate, matronize, have the care of, have the charge of, be in charge of, have charge of, take the direction, boss, boss one around, pull the strings, pull the wires, rule, have the direction, hold office, hold the portfolio, preside, preside at the board, take the chair, occupy the chair, be in the chair, pull the stroke oar, tend towards, bend towards, point towards, conduct to, go to, point to, point at, bend, trend, verge, incline, dip, determine, steer for, steer towards, make for, make towards, aim at, level at, take aim, keep a course, hold a course, be bound for, bend one's steps towards, direct one's course, steer one's course, bend one's course, shape one's course, align one's march, allign one's march, to straight, go straight to the point, march on, march on a point, ascertain one's direction, s'orienter, see which way the wind blows, box the compass, take the air line.

Auxiliary

N auxiliary, recruit, assistant, adjuvant, adjutant, ayudante, coaid, adjunct, help, helper, help mate, helping hand, midwife, colleague, partner, mate, confrere, cooperator, coadjutor, coadjutrix, collaborator, ally, friend, confidant, fidus Achates, pal, buddy, alter ego, confederate, accomplice, complice, accessory, accessory after the fact, particeps criminis, socius criminis, aide-de-camp, secretary, clerk, associate, marshal, right-hand, right-hand man, Friday, girl Friday, man Friday, gopher, gofer, candle- holder, bottle-holder, handmaid, servant, puppet, cat's-paw, jackal, tool, dupe, stooge, ame damnee, satellite, adherent, votary, sectarian, secretary, seconder, backer, upholder, abettor, advocate, partisan, champion, patron, friend at court, mediator, angel (theater, entertainment), friend in need, Jack at a pinch, deus ex machina, guardian angel, tutelary genius.

Servant

N servant, subject, liegeman, servant, retainer, follower, henchman, servitor, domestic, menial, help, lady help, employe, attache, official, retinue, suite, cortege, staff, court, attendant, squire, usher, page, donzel, footboy, train bearer, cup bearer, waiter, lapster, butler, livery servant, lackey, footman, flunky, flunkey, valet, valet de chambre, equerry, groom, jockey, hostler, ostler, tiger, orderly, messenger, cad, gillie, herdsman, swineherd, barkeeper, bartender, bell boy, boots, boy, counterjumper, khansamah, khansaman, khitmutgar, yardman, bailiff, castellan, seneschal, chamberlain, major-domo, groom of the chambers, secretary, under secretary, assistant secretary, clerk, subsidiary, agent, subaltern, underling, understrapper, man, maid, maidservant, handmaid, confidente, lady's maid, abigail, soubrette, amah, biddy, nurse, bonne, ayah, nursemaid, nursery maid, house maid, parlor maid, waiting maid, chamber maid, kitchen maid, scullery maid, femme de chambre, femme fille, camarista, chef de cuisine, cordon bleu, cook, scullion, Cinderella, potwalloper, maid of all work, servant of all work, laundress, bedmaker, journeyman, charwoman, bearer, chokra, gyp (Cambridge), hamal, scout (Oxford), serf, vassal, slave, negro, helot, bondsman, bondswoman, bondslave, ame damnee, odalisque, ryot, adscriptus gleboe, villian, villein, beadsman, bedesman, sizar, pensioner, pensionary, client, dependant, dependent, hanger on, satellite, parasite, led captain, protege, ward, hireling, mercenary, puppet, tool, creature, badge of slavery, bonds, in the train of, in one's pay, in one's employ, at one's call, in bonds.

Servility

N servility, slavery, obsequiousness, subserviency, abasement, prostration, prosternation, genuflection, fawning, tuft- hunting, timeserving, flunkeyism, sycophancy, humility, sycophant, parasite, toad, toady, toad-eater, tufthunter, snob, flunky, flunkey, yes-man, lapdog, spaniel, lickspittle, smell-feast, Graeculus esuriens, hanger on, cavaliere servente, led captain, carpet knight, timeserver, fortune hunter, Vicar of Bray, Sir- Pertinax, Max Sycophant, pickthank, flatterer, doer of dirty work, ame damnee, tool, reptile, slave, courtier, beat, dead beat, doughface, heeler, homme de cour, sponger, sucker, tagtail, truckler, servile, obsequious, supple, supple as a glove, soapy, oily, pliant, cringing, abased, dough-faced, fawning, slavish, groveling, sniveling, mealy-mouthed, beggarly, sycophantic, parasitical, abject, prostrate, down on ones marrowbones, base, mean, sneaking, crouching, hat in hand, cap in hand.

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