tool

n 1: an implement used in the practice of a vocation

2: the means whereby something is accomplished; "my greed was

the instrument of my destruction" or "science has given us

new tools to fight disease" [syn: {instrument}]

3: a person who is used to perform unpleasant or dishonest

tasks for someone else [syn: {creature}, {puppet}]

4: obscene terms for penis [syn: {cock}, {prick}, {dick}, {shaft},

{pecker}, {peter}]

v 1: "The car was driving down the road"; "The convertible tooled

down the street" [syn: {drive}]

2: ride in a conveyance with no particular goal [syn: {joyride},

{tool around}]

3: furnish with tools

4: work with a tool

tool

1. A program used primarily to create, manipulate,

modify, or analyse other programs, such as a compiler or an

editor or a cross-referencing program. Opposite: {app},

{operating system}.

2. A {Unix} {application program} with a simple, "transparent"

(typically text-stream) interface designed specifically to be

used in programmed combination with other tools (see {filter},

{plumbing}).

3. ({MIT}: general to students there) To work; to

study (connotes tedium). The {TMRC} Dictionary defined this

as "to set one's brain to the grindstone". See {hack}.

4. ({MIT}) A student who studies too much and

hacks too little. MIT's student humour magazine rejoices in

the name "Tool and Die".

[{Jargon File}]

(1996-12-12)