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utility

noun
/juːˈtɪl.ɪ.ti/UK/juˈtɪl.ə.ti/US/jʊʈɪˈlɪʈi/

Etymology

From Middle English utilite, from Old French utilite, utilitet (“usefulness”), from Latin ūtilitās, from uti (“to use”). By surface analysis, utile + -ity.

  1. derived from ūtilitās
  2. derived from utilite
  3. inherited from utilite

Definitions

  1. The state or condition of being useful

    The state or condition of being useful; usefulness.

    • "The profession has its utility, but I should be sorry to see any friend of mine belonging to it."

  2. Something that is useful.

    • Undoubtedly it can be said that the humble 0-6-0 has been the backbone for general service, or general utility on British railways right from their earliest days, and is likely to remain so.

  3. The ability of a commodity to satisfy needs or wants

    The ability of a commodity to satisfy needs or wants; the satisfaction experienced by the consumer of that commodity.

  4. ›+ 10 more definitions

    1. Well-being, satisfaction, pleasure, or happiness.

    2. A commodity or service provided on a continuous basis by a physical infrastructure…

      A commodity or service provided on a continuous basis by a physical infrastructure network, such as electricity, water supply or sewerage.

      • The complex includes the usual utilities (gas and electricity) and amenities like wifi and a gym (toilets with toiletries).
      • Elsewhere, utility diversion works are still scheduled to continue, with work to move a gas main on Drummond Street set to begin in early 2025.
      • The 'slab track' system negates the need to divert utilities such as gas pipes and telecoms cables by only digging down to a depth of 30cm.

    3. A natural or legal monopoly distributer of such a utility

      A natural or legal monopoly distributer of such a utility; or, the securities of such a provider.

    4. A software program other than a game

      A software program other than a game; one that is useful or creative rather than merely entertaining.

      • a graphics utility; a music utility

    5. A software program designed to perform a single task or a small range of tasks, often to…

      A software program designed to perform a single task or a small range of tasks, often to help manage and tune computer hardware, an operating system, or application software.

      • Holonyms: app, application, program
      • I've bought a new disk utility that can recover deleted files.
      • The system includes an 8080 and a Z80 assembler, a Tektronix format downloader and other utilities.

    6. The ability to play multiple positions.

    7. A coupé utility, or ute

      A coupé utility, or ute; an automobile with an open tray or bed behind the passenger cabin.

      • Tim Archer got into the utility and drove[.] The car was a 1946 Chevrolet, somewhat battered by four years of station use, a sturdy practical vehicle with a coupé front seat and an open truck body behind.

    8. Having to do with, or owned by, a service provider.

      • utility line; utility bill

    9. containing or intended for any of a building’s often-utility-related commodity transport,…

      containing or intended for any of a building’s often-utility-related commodity transport, such as pipes or wires, or converting equipment, such as furnaces, water tanks or heaters, circuit breakers, central air conditioning units, laundry facilities, etc.

      • utility room; utility corridor

    10. Functional rather than attractive.

The neighborhood

Derived

Asian utility vehicle, beautility, coupé utility, law of diminishing marginal utility, marginal utility, multiutility, public utility, public utility bus, public utility jeepney, public utility van, public utility vehicle, sport utility vehicle, transaction utility, utilitarian, utility ball, utility bar, utility belt, utility bike, utility calculus, utility computing, utility fog, utility function, utility furniture, utility graph, utility knife, utility man, utility model, utility monster, utility pigeon, utility player, utility pole, utility program, utility programme, utility room, utility sink, utility trailer, utility truck, utility vehicle

Vish — recursive loop

A definitional loop anchored at utility. Each word in the ring is defined by the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself. Scroll to it and watch.

01utility02consumer03base04durable05decay06decomposed07decompose08rot

A definitional loop anchored at utility. Each word in the ring appears in the definition of the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself.

8 hops · closes at utility

curated · pre-corpus. live cycle detection across the full graph is the next major milestone.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA