TECHNOLOGY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does technology mean? 

• TECHNOLOGY (noun)
  The noun TECHNOLOGY has 3 senses:

1. the application of the knowledge and usage of tools (such as machines or utensils) and techniques to control one's environment

2. the discipline dealing with the art or science of applying scientific knowledge to practical problems

3. machinery and equipment developed from engineering or other applied sciences

  Familiarity information: TECHNOLOGY used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TECHNOLOGY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The application of the knowledge and usage of tools (such as machines or utensils) and techniques to control one's environment

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

the mastery of fire was a huge advance in human technology

Hypernyms ("technology" is a kind of...):

application; practical application (the act of bringing something to bear; using it for a particular purpose)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "technology"):

aeronautical engineering (the activity of designing and constructing aircraft)

automotive engineering; automotive technology (the activity of designing and constructing automobiles)

chemical engineering (the activity of applying chemistry to the solution of practical problems)

communications technology (the activity of designing and constructing and maintaining communication systems)

computer technology (the activity of designing and constructing and programming computers)

high tech; high technology (highly advanced technological development (especially in electronics))

rail technology; railroading (the activity of designing and constructing and operating railroads)

engineering (the practical application of technical and scientific knowledge to commerce or industry)

Derivation:

technological (of or relating to a practical subject that is organized according to scientific principles)

technologist (a person who uses scientific knowledge to solve practical problems)

technology (machinery and equipment developed from engineering or other applied sciences)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The discipline dealing with the art or science of applying scientific knowledge to practical problems

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

applied science; engineering; engineering science; technology

Context example:

he had trouble deciding which branch of engineering to study

Hypernyms ("technology" is a kind of...):

bailiwick; discipline; field; field of study; study; subject; subject area; subject field (a branch of knowledge)

Domain member category:

flood control ((engineering) the art or technique of trying to control rivers with dams etc in order to minimize the occurrence of floods)

sink ((technology) a process that acts to absorb or remove energy or a substance from a system)

source ((technology) a process by which energy or a substance enters a system)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "technology"):

rocketry (the branch of engineering science that studies rocket design and operation)

naval engineering (the branch of engineering that deals with the design and construction and operation of ships)

nuclear engineering (the branch of engineering concerned with the design and construction and operation of nuclear reactors)

nanotechnology (the branch of engineering that deals with things smaller than 100 nanometers (especially with the manipulation of individual molecules))

mechanical engineering (the branch of engineering that deals with the design and construction and operation of machinery)

information technology; IT (the branch of engineering that deals with the use of computers and telecommunications to retrieve and store and transmit information)

industrial engineering; industrial management (the branch of engineering that deals with the creation and management of systems that integrate people and materials and energy in productive ways)

architectural engineering (the branch of engineering that deals with the construction of buildings (as distinguished from architecture as a design art))

computer science; computing (the branch of engineering science that studies (with the aid of computers) computable processes and structures)

EE; electrical engineering (the branch of engineering science that studies the uses of electricity and the equipment for power generation and distribution and the control of machines and communication)

civil engineering (the branch of engineering concerned with the design and construction of such public works as dams or bridges)

chemical engineering (the branch of engineering that is concerned with the design and construction and operation of the plants and machinery used in industrial chemical processes)

bioengineering; biotechnology; ergonomics (the branch of engineering science in which biological science is used to study the relation between workers and their environments)

bionics (application of biological principles to the study and design of engineering systems (especially electronic systems))

aeronautical engineering (the branch of engineering science concerned with the design and construction of aircraft)

Derivation:

technological (based in scientific and industrial progress)

technological (of or relating to a practical subject that is organized according to scientific principles)

technologist (a person who uses scientific knowledge to solve practical problems)

technology (machinery and equipment developed from engineering or other applied sciences)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Machinery and equipment developed from engineering or other applied sciences

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("technology" is a kind of...):

machinery (machines or machine systems collectively)

equipment (an instrumentality needed for an undertaking or to perform a service)

Derivation:

technology (the application of the knowledge and usage of tools (such as machines or utensils) and techniques to control one's environment)

technology (the discipline dealing with the art or science of applying scientific knowledge to practical problems)

 Context examples 

A molecular genetic technique that combines chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) with DNA microarray technology to find candidate binding sites of DNA-associated proteins in a biological specimen.

(ChIP-On-Chip, NCI Thesaurus)

The researchers call the technology FRAME — Frequency Recognition Algorithm for Multiple Exposures.

(World's Fastest Film Camera, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

To that end it supports the development of resources and technology that will accelerate genome research and its application to human health.

(National Human Genome Research Institute, NCI Thesaurus)

The methods necessary to engineer well-understood nanoscale phenomena into technology.

(Nanoscale Process, NCI Thesaurus)

Includes technologies to facilitate this research.

(Cancer Immunology, NCI Thesaurus)

Provide a funding mechanism for developing and testing new technologies that underlie discovery in all aspects of cancer research.

(Phased Innovation Awards, NCI Thesaurus)

Technologies that utilize aptamers for biosensors, diagnostic assays, therapeutics, etc.

(Aptamer Technology, NCI Thesaurus)

The utilization of small (<100 nm), stable particles in a variety of technologies.

(Nanoparticle Application, NCI Thesaurus)

A program within the National Cancer Institute that stimulates and supports diagnostics research, resources and improved technologies to guide the choice of treatment for cancer patients.

(Cancer Diagnosis Program, NCI Thesaurus)

Any technology which helps in visualization of any biological process, cell, tissue or organ for the screening, diagnosis, surgical procedure or therapy.

(Medical Imaging, NCI Thesaurus)