tool
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tool
1.
a. an implement, such as a hammer, saw, or spade, that is used by hand
b. a power-driven instrument; machine tool
2. the cutting part of such an instrument
3.
a. any of the instruments used by a bookbinder to impress a design on a book cover
b. a design so impressed
4. anything used as a means of performing an operation or achieving an end
Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
tool
[tül] (engineering)
Any device, instrument, or machine for the performance of an operation, for example, a hammer, saw, lathe, twist drill, drill press, grinder, planer, or screwdriver.
(industrial engineering)
To equip a factory or industry for production by designing, making, and integrating machines, machine tools, and special dies, jigs, and instruments, so as to achieve manufacture and assembly of products on a volume basis at minimum cost.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
tool
(tool)A program used primarily to create, manipulate,
modify, or analyse other programs, such as a compiler or an
editor or a cross-referencing program. Opposite: app,
operating system.
tool
(2)A Unix application program with a simple, "transparent"
(typically text-stream) interface designed specifically to be
used in programmed combination with other tools (see filter,
plumbing).
tool
(jargon)(MIT: general to students there) To work; to
study (connotes tedium). The TMRC Dictionary defined this
as "to set one's brain to the grindstone". See hack.
tool
(jargon, person)(MIT) A student who studies too much and
hacks too little. MIT's student humour magazine rejoices in
the name "Tool and Die".
This article is provided by FOLDOC - Free Online Dictionary of Computing (foldoc.org)
tool
(1) A program used for software development or system maintenance. Virtually any program or utility that helps programmers or users develop applications or maintain their computers can be called a tool. Examples of programming tools are compilers, interpreters, assemblers, 4GLs, editors, debuggers and application generators. See toolkit.(2) A program that helps the user analyze or search for data. For example, query and report programs are often called query tools and report tools.
(3) An on-screen function in a graphics program; for example, a line draw, circle draw or brush tool.
(4) A software control panel for setting user preferences. See tools menu.
(5) Sometimes, people will call any software a "tool." For example, the phrase, "there aren't any tools to do that job" means that no application is available to perform the required processing.
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