1.  device(n = noun.artifact) - an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose; "the device is small enough to wear on your wrist"; "a device intended to conserve water"
is a kind of instrumentality, instrumentation
has particulars: acoustic device, adapter, adaptor, afterburner, agglomerator, aerofoil, airfoil, control surface, surface, alarm, alarm system, warning device, appliance, contraption, contrivance, convenience, gadget, gismo, gizmo, widget, applicator, applier, aspergill, aspersorium, automatic pilot, autopilot, robot pilot, bait, decoy, lure, billiard marker, bird feeder, birdfeeder, feeder, blower, bootjack, breathalyser, breathalyzer, breathing apparatus, breathing device, breathing machine, ventilator, bubbler, buffer, fender, catapult, launcher, battery charger, charger, clip-on, comb, baby's dummy, comforter, pacifier, teething ring, conductor, birth control device, contraceptive, contraceptive device, preventative, preventive, prophylactic device, converter, convertor, corer, corrective, restorative, crusher, cryptograph, cutoff, dampener, moistener, damper, muffler, deflector, dental appliance, depressor, detector, sensing element, sensor, diestock, drive, drop forge, drop hammer, drop press, elastic device, electrical device, electronic device, energiser, energizer, exercise device, explosive device, fan, filter, asphyxiator, extinguisher, fire extinguisher, flare, fumigator, gas fixture, groover, guard, safety, safety device, heater, warmer, heat exchanger, holding device, horn, foil, hydrofoil, imprint, indicator, instrument, ignition interlock, interlock, interrupter, jig, key, keyboard, kinetoscope, doorknocker, knocker, rapper, lift, lifting device, igniter, ignitor, light, lighter, machine, magnet, mechanism, memory device, storage device, instrument, musical instrument, nest egg, noisemaker, optical device, override, paper feed, peeler, pick, plectron, plectrum, power takeoff, pto, goad, prod, autocue, prompter, pull, reflector, button, release, remote, remote control, reset, constraint, restraint, router, runner, scratcher, shoehorn, shoetree, shooting stick, shredder, signaling device, snowshoe, sounder, source of illumination, stabiliser, stabilizer, stemmer, straightener, reinforcement, strengthener, stylus, suction cup, support, sweatbox, synchroflash, take-up, teaser, dart thrower, spear thrower, throwing board, throwing stick, tilter, pair of tongs, tongs, toy, trap, trigger, valve, vaporiser, vaporizer, ventilator, washboard, water cooler

2.  device(n = noun.communication) - something in an artistic work designed to achieve a particular effect;
is a kind of expressive style, style
has particulars: conceit, rhetorical device

3.  device(n = noun.act) gimmick, twist - any clever maneuver; "he would stoop to any device to win a point"; "it was a great sales gimmick"; "a cheap promotions gimmick for greedy businessmen"
is a kind of maneuver, manoeuvre, tactical maneuver, tactical manoeuvre
has particulars: mnemonic, fast one, trick

4.  device(n = noun.artifact) - any ornamental pattern or design (as in embroidery);
is a kind of design, figure, pattern
has particulars: seal, stamp

5.  device(n = noun.artifact) - an emblematic design (especially in heraldry); "he was recognized by the device on his shield"
is a kind of emblem
has particulars: union

device, n.
1 a thing made or adapted for a particular purpose, esp. a mechanical contrivance.
2 a plan, scheme, or trick.
3 a an emblematic or heraldic design. b a drawing or design.
4 archaic make, look (things of rare device).

Idiom:
leave a person to his or her own devices leave a person to do as he or she wishes.

Etymology:
ME f. OF devis ult. f. L (as DIVIDE)

N  plan, scheme, design, project, proposal, proposition, suggestion, resolution, motion, precaution, deep- laid plan, system, organization, germ, sketch, skeleton, outline, draught, draft, ebauche, brouillon, rough cast, rough draft, draught copy, copy, proof, revise, drawing, scheme, schematic, graphic, chart, flow chart (representation), forecast, program, programme, prospectus, carte du pays, card, bill, protocol, order of the day, list of agenda, bill of fare, base of operations, platform, plank, slate, ticket, role, policy, contrivance, invention, expedient, receipt, nostrum, artifice, device, pipelaying, stratagem, trick, alternative, loophole, shift, last shift, measure, step, stroke, stroke of policy, master stroke, trump card, court card, cheval de bataille, great gun, coup, coup d'etat, clever stroke, bold stroke, good move, good hit, good stroke, bright thought, bright idea, intrigue, cabal, plot, conspiracy, complot, machination, subplot, underplot, counterplot, schemer, schemist, schematist, strategist, machinator, projector, artist, promoter, designer, conspirator, intrigant, planned, strategic, strategical, planning, prepared, in course of preparation, under consideration, on the tapis, on the carpet, on the floor.

N  cunning, craft, cunningness, craftiness, subtlety, artificiality, maneuvering, temporization, circumvention, chicane, chicanery, sharp practice, knavery, jugglery, concealment, guile, doubling, duplicity, foul play, diplomacy, politics, Machiavelism, jobbery, backstairs influence, art, artifice, device, machination, plot, maneuver, stratagem, dodge, sidestep, artful dodge, wile, trick, trickery, ruse, ruse de guerre, finesse, side blow, thin end of the wedge, shift, go by, subterfuge, evasion, white lie, juggle, tour de force, tricks of the trade, tricks upon travelers, espieglerie, net, trap, Ulysses, Machiavel, sly boots, fox, reynard, Scotchman, Jew, Yankee, intriguer, intrigant, floater, Indian giver, keener, repeater, cunning, crafty, artful, skillful, subtle, feline, vulpine, cunning as a fox, cunning as a serpent, deep, deep laid, profound, designing, contriving, intriguing, strategic, diplomatic, politic, Machiavelian, timeserving, artificial, tricky, tricksy, wily, sly, slim, insidious, stealthy, underhand, subdolous, deceitful, slippery as an eel, evasive, crooked, arch, pawky, shrewd, acute, sharp, sharp as a tack, sharp as a needle, canny, astute, leery, knowing, up to snuff, too clever by half, not to be caught with chaff, tactful, diplomatic, politic, polite, cunningly, slyly, slily, on the sly, by a side wind, diamond cut diamond, a' bis ou a blanc, fin contre fin, something is rotten in the state of Denmark.

N  indication, symbolism, symbolization, semiology, semiotics, semeiology, semeiotics, Zeitgeist, characteristic, diagnostic, lineament, feature, trait, fingerprint, voiceprint, footprint, noseprint, cloven hoof, footfall, recognition (memory), diagnostic, divining rod, detector, sign, symbol, index, indice, indicator, point, pointer, exponent, note, token, symptom, dollar sign, dollar mark, type, figure, emblem, cipher, device, representation, epigraph, motto, posy, gesture, gesticulation, pantomime, wink, glance, leer, nod, shrug, beck, touch, nudge, dactylology, dactylonomy, freemasonry, telegraphy, chirology, byplay, dumb show, cue, hint, clue, clew, key, scent, signal, signal post, rocket, blue light, watch fire, watch tower, telegraph, semaphore, flagstaff, cresset, fiery cross, calumet, heliograph, guidon, headlight, mark, scratch, line, stroke, dash, score, stripe, streak, tick, dot, point, notch, nick, print, imprint, impress, impression, keyboard symbols, printing symbols, red letter, italics, sublineation, underlining, bold font, jotting, note, annotation, reference, blaze, cedilla, guillemets, hachure, quotation marks, ", double quotes, " ", parentheses, "( )", brackets, "", braces, "", left arrow, "<", right arrow, ">", forward slash, "/", backward slash, "\", exclamation point, "!", commercial at, "@", pound sign, "#", percent sign, "%", carat, "", ampersand, "&", asterisk, "*", hyphen, "-", dash, "-", "_", em dash, "--", plus sign, "+", equals sign, "=", question mark, "?", period, ", ", semicolon, ", ", colon, ":", comma, ", ", apostrophe, "'", single quote, "'", tilde, "~", badge, criterion, countercheck, countermark, countersign, counterfoil, duplicate, tally, label, ticket, billet, letter, counter, check, chip, chop, dib, totem, tessera, card, bill, witness, voucher, stamp, cacher, trade mark, Hall mark, signature, mark, autograph, autography, attestation, hand, hand writing, sign manual, cipher, seal, sigil, signet, hand and seal, paraph, brand, superscription, indorsement, endorsement, password, watchword, catchword, security card, pass, passkey, credentials, open sesame, timbrology, mot de passe, mot du guet, pass-parole, shibboleth, title, heading, docket, address card, visiting card, carte de visite, insignia, banner, banneret, bannerol, bandrol, flag, colors, streamer, standard, eagle, labarum, oriflamb, oriflamme, figurehead, ensign, pennon, pennant, pendant, burgee, blue Peter, jack, ancient, gonfalon, union jack, banderole, old glory, quarantine flag, vexillum, yellow-flag, yellow jack, tricolor, stars and stripes, bunting, heraldry, crest, coat of arms, arms, armorial bearings, hatchment, escutcheon, scutcheon, shield, supporters, livery, uniform, cockade, epaulet, chevron, garland, love knot, favor, beacon, cairn, post, staff, flagstaff, hand, pointer, vane, cock, weathercock, guidepost, handpost, fingerpost, directing post, signpost, pillars of Hercules, pharos, bale-fire, beacon-fire, l'etoile du Nord, landmark, seamark, lighthouse, balize, polestar, loadstar, lodestar, cynosure, guide, address, direction, name, sign, signboard, warning, omen, prefigurement, trace, record, warning &c, alarm, scepter, trophy, gauge, milestone, milepost, brand, fool's cap, check, telltale, test, mileage ticket, milliary, notification, advertisement, word of command, call, bugle call, trumpet call, bell, alarum, cry, battle cry, rallying cry, angelus, reveille, sacring bell, sanctus bell, exposition &c (explanation), proof, pattern, indicating, indicative, indicatory, denotative, connotative, diacritical, representative, typical, symbolic, pantomimic, pathognomonic, symptomatic, characteristic, demonstrative, diagnostic, exponential, emblematic, armorial, individual, known by, recognizable by, indicated, pointed, marked, denotable, indelible, in token of, symbolically, in dumb show, ecce signum, ex ungue leonem, ex pede Herculem, vide ut supra, vultus ariete fortior.

acoustic device, birth control device, breathing device, computing device, contraceptive device, data input device, detonating device, device characteristic, device driver, elastic device, electrical device, electromechanical device, electronic device, exercise device, explosive device, flotation device, guidance device, holding device, homing device, improvised explosive device, input device, intrauterine device, lifting device, measuring device, mechanical device, memory device, monitoring device, nuclear device, optical device, peripheral device, projective device, prophylactic device, prosthetic device, rhetorical device, safety device, semiconductor device, signaling device, storage device, warning device