contraption
gb/kəntɹˈæpʃən/ us/kəntɹˈæpʃən/
B2
Inglés
szerkentyű, tákolmány
SUSTANTIVO
B2
INFORMAL
1
szerkentyű
B2
Patrón de uso:
a contraption (for doing [something])
He wheeled in a strange contraption made of pipes, gears, and a bicycle wheel.
Betolt egy furcsa szerkentyűt, amely csövekből, fogaskerekekből és egy biciklikerékből állt.
I don’t know how this contraption works, but it somehow makes perfect espresso.
Fogalmam sincs, hogyan működik ez a szerkentyű, de valahogy tökéletes eszpresszót készít.
The inventor demonstrated the contraption, and everyone laughed when it finally started moving.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
What is this contraption?
Mi ez a szerkentyű?
He built a contraption to open the door.
Épített egy szerkentyűt az ajtó kinyitására.
Error frecuente:
Don’t confuse contraption with contraception (birth control).
Significado
a strange complicated device
Colocaciones
a weird contraption
|a strange contraption
|an elaborate contraption
|a homemade contraption
|a mechanical contraption
|a clunky contraption
|a contraption of wires and tubes
|build a contraption
|invent a contraption
|operate the contraption
Sinónimos
gadget (More neutral and often smaller; contraption suggests awkwardness or oddity.)
|
device (Broader and more neutral; contraption implies it looks strange or overly complex.)
|
contrivance (More formal; can also suggest something cleverly designed.)
Antónimos
simple tool (Emphasizes straightforward design, unlike a contraption.)
Temas
daily_life
|technology
|tools
|humor
Definición
a strange machine or device
A machine or device that looks unusual or is unnecessarily complicated, often one that seems awkwardly put together.
SUSTANTIVO
B2
INFORMAL
2
tákolmány
C1
Patrón de uso:
a contraption made from [materials] (to [do something])
She put together a contraption from cardboard to keep the cat out of the kitchen.
Kartonból összerakott egy tákolmányt, hogy távol tartsa a macskát a konyhától.
We used a contraption of rope and pulleys to lift the heavy box onto the shelf.
Egy kötelekből és csigákból összerakott tákolmánnyal emeltük fel a nehéz dobozt a polcra.
His contraption worked, but it looked like it might fall apart at any moment.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
We made a contraption to carry the bags.
Csináltunk egy tákolmányt a táskák cipeléséhez.
Error frecuente:
A contraption can be homemade and useful; it doesn’t always mean it fails.
Significado
a makeshift device for a task
Colocaciones
a makeshift contraption
|a quick contraption
|a jury-rigged contraption
|a contraption made from scrap
|a contraption to hold [something]
|put together a contraption
|cobble together a contraption
|fix it with a contraption
|a contraption to keep [something] in place
|a contraption to lift [something]
Sinónimos
makeshift device (More literal and neutral; contraption adds an informal tone.)
|
rig (Often used for a practical setup; less humorous than contraption.)
Antónimos
proper equipment (Suggests professionally made, standard tools rather than something improvised.)
Temas
daily_life
|tools
|diy
|problem_solving
Definición
a quick homemade device for a job
A device made quickly from available materials to solve a practical problem, especially when it is not professionally made.
SUSTANTIVO
C1
INFORMAL
3
tákolmány
C1
Patrón de uso:
a contraption of [rules/parts/ideas]
The new policy is a contraption of exceptions and confusing deadlines.
Az új szabályzat a kivételek és zavaros határidők valóságos tákolmánya.
They replaced the old billing contraption with a simpler system.
A régi számlázási tákolmányt egy egyszerűbb rendszerre cserélték.
What started as a simple plan turned into a contraption of approvals and forms.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
Their plan became a complicated contraption.
A tervük egy bonyolult tákolmánnyá vált.
Error frecuente:
This figurative meaning is negative; it suggests criticism of the design.
Significado
an awkward complicated arrangement
Colocaciones
a legal contraption
|a bureaucratic contraption
|a complicated contraption
|a contraption of rules
|a contraption of policies
|a political contraption
|an administrative contraption
|a financial contraption
Sinónimos
mess (Stronger and less specific; contraption suggests complexity and awkward design.)
|
patchwork (Emphasizes being pieced together from parts; less humorous than contraption.)
Antónimos
streamlined system (Designed to be simple and efficient, unlike a contraption.)
Temas
society
|business
|law
|criticism
Definición
a complicated system that seems badly designed
Something, especially a system or plan, that is seen as awkwardly designed or unnecessarily complicated.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
contraption
AFI
GB/kəntɹˈæpʃən/
US/kəntɹˈæpʃən/
Sílabas y acento
con - trap - tion (3 sílabas)
Stress on 2nd syllable (trap)
Formas de la palabra
Noun
- Base: contraption
- Plural: contraptions
Familia de palabras
Forms
contraptions
noun
Core family
contrive
verb C1
contrived
adjective
Related words
contrivance
noun C1
Expresiones
heath robinson contraption
1/hˈiθ ɹˈɑbənsən kəntɹˈæpʃən/
fixed phrase
informal
clunky overcomplicated machine (UK)
a silly complicated homemade machine
Ejemplos
- He fixed the gate with a Heath Robinson contraption of string and bent nails.
- The workshop was full of Heath Robinson contraptions that somehow still worked.
- It looks like a Heath Robinson contraption, but it does the job.
rube goldberg contraption
1/ɹˈub ɡˈoʊldbɚɡ kəntɹˈæpʃən/
fixed phrase
informal
overcomplicated machine for simple task
a very complicated machine that does an easy job
Ejemplos
- For the science fair, they built a Rube Goldberg contraption to crack an egg.
- The video shows a Rube Goldberg contraption that turns off a light switch in thirty steps.
- It’s a clever solution, but it feels like a Rube Goldberg contraption.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- They built a Rube Goldberg contraption to ring a bell.
some kind of contraption
1/sˈʌm kˈaɪnd əv kəntɹˈæpʃən/
fixed phrase
informal
unknown device with vague name
a device whose name you don’t know
Ejemplos
- He pulled out some kind of contraption to measure the humidity in the room.
- There was some kind of contraption on the counter, buzzing quietly.
- She arrived with some kind of contraption to hold her phone while she ran.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- He bought some kind of contraption for the kitchen.