- any small, esp. mechanical contrivance or device
- any interesting but relatively useless or unnecessary object
Origin of gadget
from uncertain or unknown; perhaps French gâchette, catch (of a lock), tumbler, diminutive of gâche, a bolt, catch
A useful little gadget.
The definition of a gadget is a small, unique-use mechanical or electronic device.
An example of a gadget is a lime squeezer.
YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2018 by LoveToKnow Corp
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"gadget." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 18 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/gadget>.
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gadget. (n.d.). Retrieved December 18th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/gadget
gadget
Webster's New World College Dictionary, Fifth Edition Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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"gadget." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 18 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/gadget>.
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gadget. (n.d.). Retrieved December 18th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/gadget
gadget
noun
A small specialized mechanical or electronic device; a contrivance.
Origin of gadget
Perhaps originally 19th century glassblowers' jargon gadget spring-pressure clip at the end of a punty to hold the foot of a glass being blown without creating a mark probably from French gâchette pawl, tumbler in a gunlock, strike plate (a metal plate in a door jamb for a hole for receiving the bolt of a lock) gâche strike plate, collar or bracket for a pipe ( from Middle French gasche strike plate, iron hook ) ( from Old French calk of a shoe or horseshoe ) ( from Frankish gaspia buckle, clasp ) (Middle Dutch gespe ) ( probably (with metathesis) from Germanic gapsō, *gipsō ) (Old Norse geispa to yawn ) ( and gapa to gape ) -ette diminutive suffix ( from Middle French) ( from Old French; see -ette . )Related Forms:
- gadg′et·y
adjective
THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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"gadget." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 18 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/gadget>.
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gadget. (n.d.). Retrieved December 18th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/gadget
Noun
(plural gadgets)
Origin
Unknown. First used in print by Robert Brown in 1886 (see quote in definition section). Might come from French gâchette or gagée.
English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.
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"gadget." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 18 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/gadget>.
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gadget. (n.d.). Retrieved December 18th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/gadget
gadget - Computer Definition
(1) Pronounced "gah-jit," slang for any hardware device, typically small. Synonymous with "gizmo." Smartphones, tablets and portable game and music players are sometimes placed in the gadget category. See fondleslab.
(2) A mini app that stays on screen to provide quick functionality. Search box, clock, weather, calculator and stock market gadgets are typical examples. The gadget may be static, such as a calculator, that requires input from the user, or be "live" and changing such as the weather and stock market. Gadgets were available for Windows Vista and 7, the Google Desktop and the personal home pages of Windows Live and iGoogle. Gadgets are called "widgets" ("wih-jit") on smartphones, tablets, the Mac desktop and other environments. See widget, Sidebar, Google Desktop and iGoogle.
Windows Gadgets
Available in Windows Vista and 7, Gadgets were dropped in Windows 8, although live tiles offered similar functions (see live tiles).
Computer Desktop Encyclopedia THIS DEFINITION IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY All other reproduction is strictly prohibited without permission from the publisher. © 1981-2017 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved.
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"gadget." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 18 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/gadget>.
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gadget. (n.d.). Retrieved December 18th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/gadget
Sentence Examples
- In wine snobbery terms, it will not oxidize as quickly as a bottled wine, no matter what type of fancy gadget you use to pull the air out of a half-full bottle before re-corking it.
- If you're looking for the best exercise to flatten the tummy, then you need to consider your own fitness goals and exercise preferences before you spend money on the latest gadget or gimmick.
- Once an earthy destination for hopeful musicians, Curtis claims her producer is inundated with requests for auto tune (that nifty little gadget that keeps Ashlee Simpson-types on pitch).
- To make yogurt with this gadget, you simply need to stir powdered and liquid milk together in a saucepan over medium heat until the mixture reaches just under 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Skin fold Calipers: Available as a manual or a battery-operated tool, this gadget is accurate and relatively inexpensive, except for the highly advanced version spotted at $250.00.
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