Conceptual or Physical System that is used to create a desired effect on another System or itself.
Cultural Definition
A mechanical device intended to make a task easier. "Hand me that tool, would you? I don't have the right tools to start fiddling around with the engine."
Equipment used in a profession, e.g., tools of the trade. "These are the tools of the trade."
Something to perform an operation; an instrument; a means.
(computing) A piece of software used to develop software or hardware, or to perform low-level operations. "The software engineer had been developing lots of EDA tools. a tool for recovering deleted files from a disk"
A person or group which is used or controlled, usually unwittingly, by another person or group. "He was a tool, no more than a pawn to her."
(slang) Penis.
(by extension, slang, pejorative) An obnoxious or uptight person. "He won't sell us tickets because it's 3:01, and they went off sale at 3. That guy's such a tool."
(transitive) To work on or shape with tools, e.g., hand-tooled leather.
(transitive) To equip with tools.
(transitive) To work very hard.
(transitive, slang) To put down another person (possibly in a subtle, hidden way), and in that way to use him or her to meet a goal. "Dude, he's not your friend. He's just tooling you."
(transitive, volleyball) To intentionally attack the ball so that it deflects off a blocker out of bounds.
(transitive, UK, slang, dated) To drive (a coach, etc.)
Pattern Expression
Tool is a pattern that is applicable anywhere in Existence.