Contrivance - English meaning

noun

Clever or cunning devices or expedients, especially as used to trick or deceive others.

Usage examples:

An industry dominated by artifice

noun

(the use of) a clever trick or something intended to deceive

Usage examples:

Amazingly for hollywood, she seems almost entirely without artifice.

noun

A thing made or adapted for a particular purpose, especially a piece of mechanical or electronic equipment.

Usage examples:

A measuring device

noun

An object or machine that has been invented to fulfill a particular purpose

Usage examples:

A handheld device, a safety device, electronic/mechanical devices, he invented a device for measuri…

noun

An object or machine which has been invented for a particular purpose

Usage examples:

Biotech and medical devices, you should not use any personal electronic device, such as a cell phon…

adjective

(of an action) convenient and practical although possibly improper or immoral.

Usage examples:

Either side could break the agreement if it were expedient to do so

noun

A means of attaining an end, especially one that is convenient but possibly improper or immoral.

Usage examples:

The current policy is a political expedient

adjective

Helpful or useful in a particular situation, and without considering any moral question that might influence your decision

Usage examples:

We thought it expedient not to pay the builder until he finished the work., political expediency

verb

Go for and then bring back (someone or something) for someone.

Usage examples:

He ran to fetch help

noun

The distance travelled by wind or waves across open water.

Usage examples:

Wave disturbance was estimated by measuring the fetch for wave height on maps as the width of the r…

noun

The apparition or double of a living person, formerly believed to be a warning of that person's impending death.

Usage examples:

I saw a fetch who looked like me

noun

An act or remark that is calculated to gain an advantage, especially at the outset of a situation.

Usage examples:

His resignation was a tactical gambit

noun

Something that you do or say that is intended to achieve an advantage and usually involves taking a risk

Usage examples:

The arrest of the political leader was seen as the opening gambit in a move to take control of the …

noun

A clever action in a game or other situation that is intended to achieve an advantage and usually involves taking a risk

Usage examples:

Opening gambit her clever opening gambit gave her an early advantage., their promise to lower taxes…

verb

Be or remain hidden so as to wait in ambush for someone or something.

Usage examples:

A ruthless killer still lurked in the darkness

noun

A profitable stratagem; a dodge or scheme.

Usage examples:

You'll soon learn the lurks and perks

noun

A plot or scheme.

Usage examples:

But hollinghurst doesn't rely on tabloid-inspired plot machinations to keep the book's engine ticki…

noun

A movement or series of moves requiring skill and care.

Usage examples:

Snowboarders performed daring manoeuvres on precipitous slopes

verb

Move skilfully or carefully.

Usage examples:

The lorry was unable to manoeuvre comfortably in the narrow street

noun

A planned action that is intended to get an advantage

Usage examples:

This manoeuvre has the effect of rewarding those shareholders who sell at the expense of those who …

verb

Go in a specified direction or manner; change position.

Usage examples:

She moved to the door

noun

A change of place, position, or state.

Usage examples:

She made a sudden move towards me

verb

Change location

noun

A detailed proposal for doing or achieving something.

Usage examples:

The un peace plan

verb

Decide on and make arrangements for in advance.

Usage examples:

They were planning a trip to egypt

verb

A series of steps to be carried out or goals to be achieved

noun

A plan made in secret by a group of people to do something illegal or harmful.

Usage examples:

They have been jailed for their part in a plot to defraud a swiss bank

verb

Secretly make plans to carry out (an illegal or harmful action).

Usage examples:

The two men are serving sentences for plotting a bomb campaign

noun

A secret plan to do something that is wrong, harmful, or illegal

Usage examples:

The police discovered a plot to rob the bank., the novel has a complicated plot that is sometimes d…

noun

A cunning plan or action designed to turn a situation to one's own advantage.

Usage examples:

This was widely interpreted as a ploy to buy time in order to consolidate his position

noun

An action intended to deceive someone; a trick.

Usage examples:

Emma tried to think of a ruse to get paul out of the house

proper noun

An industrial city and the principal port of bulgaria, on the river danube; population 156,959 (2008). turkish during the middle ages, it was captured by russia in 1877 and ceded to bulgaria.

noun

A large-scale systematic plan or arrangement for attaining a particular object or putting a particular idea into effect.

Usage examples:

The occupational sick pay scheme

verb

Make plans, especially in a devious way or with intent to do something illegal or wrong.

Usage examples:

Envious of their wealth, he schemed to bring about their downfall

noun

A plan for doing or organizing something

Usage examples:

The committee came up with a creative fundraising scheme., the yellow and white color scheme bright…

verb

Move or cause to move from one place to another, especially over a small distance.

Usage examples:

A team from the power company came to shift the cables away from the house

noun

A slight change in position, direction, or tendency.

Usage examples:

A shift in public opinion

verb

Move very slightly

noun

A plan or scheme, especially one used to outwit an opponent or achieve an end.

Usage examples:

A series of devious stratagems

noun

A plan or trick to achieve something

Usage examples:

Barry devised several stratagems for escape.

noun

Deceit used in order to achieve one's goal.

Usage examples:

He had to use subterfuge and bluff on many occasions

noun

An action taken to hide something from someone

Usage examples:

[ u ] his excuse sounded more like subterfuge than a real reason.

noun

An action or strategy carefully planned to achieve a specific end.

Usage examples:

The minority attempted to control the council by a delaying tactic

noun

A specific action intended to get a particular result

Usage examples:

Oliver’s clumsy tactics doomed the plan from the start.

noun

A planned method for achieving a particular result

Usage examples:

I think we'll have to change our marketing tactics., the tactics used by the salesman made her unco…

noun

A cunning act or scheme intended to deceive or outwit someone.

Usage examples:

He's a double-dealer capable of any mean trick

verb

Cunningly deceive or outwit.

Usage examples:

Many people have been tricked by villains with false identity cards

adjective

Intended or used to deceive or mystify, or to create an illusion.

Usage examples:

A trick question

verb

Breathe with a whistling or rattling sound in the chest, as a result of obstruction in the air passages.

Usage examples:

The illness often leaves her wheezing

noun

A wheezing sound.

Usage examples:

I talk with a wheeze

verb

To make a noise while breathing because of some breathing difficulty

Usage examples:

Since i started exercising regularly, i no longer wheeze when i run for a train.

noun

Devious or cunning stratagems employed in manipulating or persuading someone to do what one wants.

Usage examples:

She didn't employ any feminine wiles to capture his attention

verb

Lure; entice.

Usage examples:

She could be neither driven nor wiled into the parish kirk

adjective

Very bad; terrible.

Usage examples:

He was wile when he was young