appliance
noun
Simple meaning
A non-manual apparatus or device, powered electrically or by another small motor, used in homes to perform domestic functions and/or in offices.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
uhplyuhnsSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
əpˈlaɪəns
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
A non-manual apparatus or device, powered electrically or by another small motor, used in homes to perform domestic functions (household appliance) and/or in offices.
An implement, an instrument or apparatus designed (or at least used) as a means to a specific end, especially
An attachment, a piece of equipment to adapt another tool or machine to a specific purpose.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- B1 · Intermediate (estimated)
- Frequency
- Common
- Typical Use
- General English
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: A non-manual apparatus or device, powered electrically or by another small motor, used in homes to perform domestic functions (household appliance) and/or in offices.
Used this way, appliance is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It stays understated rather than dramatic. It turns up most in family or home contexts.
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Mild
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- Matter-of-fact
- Usage feel
- Neutral and straightforward
Where it naturally appears
- Family/home
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
More ways to use appliance
- “We just bought a new kitchen appliance to help with cooking.”
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
A device to repair teeth or replace missing teeth.
An appliance that does a particular job in the home.
An appliance that does a particular job in the home.
A home appliance used in preparing food.
More about this wordSynonyms, forms, origin
Synonyms
Sense: non-manual apparatus or device or powered electrically
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.