tool

plural tools

1. Any physical device meant to ease or do a task.

   A stapler is a tool for attaching papers to others.

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   Several prehistoric tools, including a stone ax, were found during the dig.

   A screwdriver is a tool that no household should be without.

   1. Any piece of equipment used in a profession, such as a craftsman's.

      the tools of the trade

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      Rakes, shovels, hoes, and spades are some of the tools of the gardener's trade.

      I don't have the right tools to start fiddling around with the engine.

      A timing light is a tool that only an automotive mechanic, professional or amateur, would have.

      Drawings and pictures are more than mere ornaments in scientific discourse. Blackboard sketches, geological maps, diagrams of molecular structure, astronomical photographs, MRI images, the many varieties of statistical charts and graphs: These pictorial devices are indispensable tools for presenting evidence, for explaining a theory, for telling a story.

      2012 March 28, Brian Hayes, “Pixels or Perish”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, archived from the original on 19 Feb 2013, page 106

2. Anything that aids someone to perform an operation; an instrument; a means.

   Idleness is a tool of the devil.

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   A spreadsheet app and a bookkeeping app are some of the principal tools of a bookkeeper.

   What was the need of a man to do that? "One stick at a time;" if Ned could not do that, he was a poor tool. Ah, a poor tool he proved to be.

   1867, The Masonic Trowel, volume 6, page 44

   Not long ago, it was difficult to produce photographs of tiny creatures with every part in focus.[…]A photo processing technique called focus stacking has changed that. Developed as a tool to electronically combine the sharpest bits of multiple digital images, focus stacking is a boon to biologists seeking full focus on a micron scale.

   2013 July-August, Catherine Clabby, “Focus on Everything”, in American Scientist, archived from the original on 11 May 2017

3. computingA piece of software used to develop software or hardware, or to perform low-level operations.

   a tool for recovering deleted files from a disk

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   The software engineer had been developing lots of EDA tools.

4. A person or group which is used or controlled, usually unwittingly, by another person or group, a pawn.

   She was a tool of the pharmaceutical lobby.

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   He was a tool of a foreign influence operation.

5. ball gamesA particular skill pertaining to baseball (such as hitting, running, etc.).

   a five-tool player

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   When asked what he liked about Youk [Kevin Youkilis], former Boston scout Matt Haas says, "At first glance, not a lot." (Mind you, this is one of the few scouts who actually wanted the kid.) "He was unorthodox," says Haas, who now scouts for the Arizona Diamondbacks. "He had an extreme crouch—his thighs were almost parallel to the ground. And he was heavier than he is now. But the more I watched him, the more I just thought, Throw the tools out the window. This guy can play baseball."

   2007 November 7, Mark Bechtel, “"there's Something Fun About Yooouuuk"”, in Sports Illustrated, archived from the original on 14 Oct 2008

6. informalvulgarA penis, notably with a sexual or erotic connotation.

   She wanna hang with the goons She wanna party midnight till noon She wanna play with my tool

   2019 January 2, Burna Bandz, “Goons” (track 13), in Compact Burna

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   Or haue wee some strange Indian with the great Toole, come to Court, the women so besiege vs?

   1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iv], page 231

   Synonyms: anaconda, baloney pony, bald-headed hermit, banana, bird, birdie, bobby, boonga

7. broadlyderogatoryslangvulgarAn obnoxious or uptight person.

   He won't sell us tickets because it's 3:01, and they went off sale at 3. That guy's such a tool.

   Synonyms: assbag, assbreath, assbucket, asschunk, asscunt, assface, assfag, assfaggot

8. CanadaMulticultural London EnglishUSslangand possibly widerA handgun.

   In my city keep a tool Lil nigga you know the rules

   2019 January 2, Burna Bandz, “Goons” (track 13), in Compact Burna

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   Three waps up and a couple of shanks (Just in case) But I got faith that these tools won't jam

   2020 November 19, (67) PR SAD, “One Wish” (1:41 from the start)

   Synonyms: weapon, arm, armament

present singular third person tools · participle present tooling · participle past tooled · past tooled

1. transitiveTo work on or shape with tools, e.g., hand-tooled leather.
2. transitiveTo equip with tools.
3. intransitiveTo work very hard.

   Do this lab and read this book, now tool, one and all, And be sure and pass that final quiz or be screwed right to the wall.

   1965, Matt Fichtenbaum, Dan Murphy, “The Institute Screw”, in The Broadside of Boston, volume III, number 22

4. slangtransitiveTo put down another person (possibly in a subtle, hidden way), and in that way to use him or her to meet a goal.

   Dude, he's not your friend. He's just tooling you.

5. transitiveball gamesTo intentionally attack the ball so that it deflects off a blocker out of bounds.
6. UKdatedslangtransitiveTo drive (a coach or other vehicle).
7. UKdatedslangtransitiveTo carry or convey in a coach or other vehicle.

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   1850s, Cuthbert M. Bede, The Adventures of Mr. Verdant Green Among those who seemed disposed to join in this opinion was the Jehu of the Warwickshire coach, who expressed his conviction to our hero, that "he wos a young gent as had much himproved hisself since he tooled him up to the Warsity with his guvnor."

8. intransitiveslangTo travel in a vehicle; to ride or drive.

   March 8, 1890, Byron P. Stephenson, "My Trip to Brazil", in Illustrated American boys on their bicycles tooling along the well-kept roads

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   These are the guys that tool around in Mercedes Sprinter vans with equipment lockers stuffed with everything from riot helmets to tasers.

   2011, Ben Aaronovitch, Rivers of London, Gollancz, published 2011, page 324