tool
part of speech
noun (a tool, tools); verb (tool up — rare)
meaning for a pupil
1) A tool is an object you hold and use to do a job, like a hammer, saw, screwdriver or spade. tree →
2) A tool is anything that helps you do something, like a computer program or a method. tree →
3) A tool (insult, informal) is a silly or unpleasant person. tree →
sense in the lessons
In design and technology, tools must be used with care and with an adult: hold them correctly, keep blades away from you, put them away after use. In science, scientists use tools like thermometers, rulers and magnifying glasses to measure and observe; some animals (chimpanzees, crows) use tools too. In maths, a ruler, protractor and compass are tools. Phrases: tool box, garden tools, power tools, a useful tool.
examples
- Dad keeps his tools in a tool box. tree →
- A hammer is a tool for hitting nails. tree →
- Use the right tool for the job. tree →
- Chimpanzees use sticks as tools to catch termites. tree →
- A protractor is a tool for measuring angles. tree →
- Power tools are only for adults. tree →
- Reading is a tool for learning. tree →
- Then the second miller's man laid aside his tool and looked up, tree →
note
Countable: one tool, many tools. Power tools (drills, saws) can cause serious injury; children should not use them. Using "tool" to call someone a name is rude.
In the corpora
- Grown-ups help with tools: kids profiles, autoplay switched off, safe search, PINs and report buttons.
- No tool is perfect, so the two steps still matter, and an accident never changes who you are.
- Learn a skill first, then use tools to check it, the way you use a calculator.
- AI detector tools are not always right and can wrongly accuse honest pupils.
- Being open about how you used a tool is honest, and many teachers give credit for it.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «tool» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.