tool

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tool

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

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

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.

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".

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.

References in periodicals archive ?

Now some advisers are pointing to a new tool they believe will again change the way retirement planning is analyzed.

E-volutionizing retirement planning: web-based and consumer self-service tools are beginning to gain ground in retirement planning

For example the "check progress" tool in WebCT provides instructors with dynamic statistical data on each student such as the number of times a student has accessed the course, the number of links a student visited, the number of messages posted, and the length of time a student has spent interacting with the course content.

Self-regulation and Web-Based Pedagogical Tools

Twenty-four hour full service, ISO 9001/2000 certified operation offering early supplier involvement, product and mold design, mold building, and tool validation that includes secondary operation and assembly.

Injection molds

There is a magazine controller that reads the part program to determine what tools will be needed; there is a four-position revolving tool disk on the machine that keeps tools ready for change.

Taking a look at some new chipmaking tech (as in metal chips, that is): here are some new developments that you may find to be important for your machining operations

Product Manager Sets, Kits, Outfits and Tools ATTN: SFAE-CS-K Rodman Ave, Bldg 104, 1st FI Rock Island, IL 61299-7630

Many tools covered by lifetime warranty

Several machining tests were completed on the two grades of cast iron while measuring flank wear of the cutting tool insert.

Putting iron machinability to the test

Pfaff Molds Piedmont Polymer Equipment Pro-Tech Tool & Machine Progressive Equipment Corp.

Classified list of molding items

The new System Generator for DSP tool radically reduces simulation time and simplifies the overall design process.

Xilinx delivers world's first FPGA-based DSP software tool with JTAG interface

As far as we know, it's the first report in a species other than humans of cumulative change of tool design," says Hunt.

Do birds build up better tool designs? (Techno Crow)

IBM has announced that its database tools business nearly tripled since entering the market segment just six months ago.

IBM DB TOOLS SALES GROWTH REFLECTS DB ADMIN SKILLS SHORTAGE

What tool is used to find the age and growth rate of trees without cutting them down?