Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A mechanical device; a gadget.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A device; a contrivance: used slightingly.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun Colloq. or Dial. A contrivance; a new-fangled device; -- used scornfully.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun A
machine that iscomplicated andprecarious . - noun figuratively Any object.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun a device or control that is very useful for a particular job
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Support
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Examples
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The script provides an admirable fulcrum for such musings with the title contraption -- run by a former Tibetan monk (Christopher Plummer) who cut a deal with the devil (Tom Waits), and which now reveals the dreams and temptations of those who venture into it.
Mania News Feed 2009
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That "contraption" is a very handsome tricycle with a VW engine.
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This crazy contraption is a wearable sensor unit that uploads its data onto pachube, a kind of info-collection network.
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This crazy contraption is slated to be Australia's very first carbon neutral office building!
Crazy Pixel Building to Be Australia’s First Carbon Neutral Office Pixel Building – Inhabitat 2010
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Created by boffins at Massachusetts University of Technology (MIT), the contraption is described as “an immersive architectural solution for the advanced WoW (World of Warcraft) player that provides and anticipates all life needs”.
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But, seriously, this divine pizza-making contraption is effing coo-el.
I need to renew my passport RIGHT NOW Tyler 2009
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This crazy contraption is a wearable sensor unit that uploads its data onto pachube, a kind of info-collection network.
Modular Neuroid: A Personal Pollutant Sensor | Inhabitat 2010
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The sheer genius of the mechanical contraption is what has always drawn my attention.
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I'm talking about the obvious failure of VSE, ESAS, Constellation, Ares I and V and Orion and whatever that lunar lander contraption is called.
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This crazy contraption is slated to be Australia's very first carbon neutral office building!
Crazy Pixel Building to Be Australia's First Carbon Neutral Office | Inhabitat 2010
bilby commented on the word contraption
My mental image of contraption is often some kind of vehicle.
July 31, 2009
frogapplause commented on the word contraption
I've always pictured it as something with belts and ropes and levers and GEARS used to flatten oversize leathery EARS.
July 31, 2009
frogapplause commented on the word contraption
Did I mention pulleys? Lots and lots of pulleys!!
July 31, 2009
reesetee commented on the word contraption
By God, bilby, that is a contraption!
August 2, 2009
mollusque commented on the word contraption
Ears back for speed?
August 2, 2009
PossibleUnderscore commented on the word contraption
*Keeps misreading this page as contraception*
That's an awesome vehicle! Note to self: must somehow acquire the contraption for future use.
August 2, 2009
plethora commented on the word contraption
I like the tiger print seats. Nice touch.
August 2, 2009
Telofy commented on the word contraption
I see some kind of intricate device used in the field of creative plumbing aka subversive plumbing (see Brazil). Surely your contraption has such a contraption built into it somewhere.
August 3, 2009
ç�lä±é¯s commented on the word contraption
The fastest 1957 Chevy Pick Up in the world.
August 4, 2009
dbekeny commented on the word contraption
AUNT EM
I saw you tinkering with that contraption,
Hickory. Now, you and Hunk get back to that
wagon!
June 10, 2010