Contraption

usgb/kənˈtræpʃn/
noun

A device or machine that looks strange or unnecessarily complicated, and often made for a specific task.

John built a contraption to automatically feed his fish.
Visual representation of "contraption" - A device or machine that looks strange or unnecessarily complicated, and often made for a specific task.

Often appears as...

  • strange contraption
  • mechanical contraption
Definition 1 of 1
Visual representation of "contraption"
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Inventive Creations

Contraptions are often handmade or improvised, showing inventiveness rather than bought from a store.

Illustration for Inventive Creations
She used a contraption made of old pipes to water her garden.
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Slightly Amusing

'Contraption' often hints that the device is odd, quirky, or amusing in its complexity or appearance.

Illustration for Slightly Amusing
His bicycle had a contraption attached to hold an umbrella overhead.
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Functional Specificity

A contraption is usually designed for a specific function, possibly one that no regular device performs.

Illustration for Functional Specificity
The gardener built a contraption to scare away crows.
Visual representation of the word "Contraption"

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