technology

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English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Borrowed from Ancient Greek τεχνολογία (tekhnología, systematic treatment (of grammar)), from τέχνη (tékhnē, art) + -λογία (-logía, study). Synchronically analysable as techno- +‎ -logy.

Pronunciation[edit]

Noun[edit]

technology (countable and uncountable, plural technologies)

  1. (uncountable) The study of or a collection of techniques.
    • 2013 June 21, Chico Harlan, “Japan pockets the subsidy …”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 2, page 30:
      Across Japan, technology companies and private investors are racing to install devices that until recently they had little interest in: solar panels. Massive solar parks are popping up as part of a rapid build-up that one developer likened to an "explosion."
  2. (countable) Any useful skill or mechanism that was developed or invented.
    • 2012, Caspar Henderson, The Book of Barely Imagined Beings, page 317:
      Comb jellies lack the most impressive 'technology' of jellyfish - the nematocyst stinging apparatus which is one of the most deadly weapons and fastest cellular processes in nature.
  3. (archaic) A discourse or treatise on the arts.

Usage notes[edit]

  • Adjectives often applied to "technology": assistive, automotive, biological, chemical, domestic, educational, environmental, geospatial, industrial, instructional, medical, microbial, military, nuclear, visual, advanced, sophisticated, high, modern, outdated, obsolete, simple, complex, medieval, ancient, safe, secure, effective, efficient, mechanical, electrical, electronic, emerging, alternative, appropriate, clean, disruptive.
  • In some milieus and contexts, the word "technology" is understood to be limited to digital communications and computing technology, e.g. "technology companies were overvalued during the dotcom bubble."

Derived terms[edit]

Related terms[edit]

Descendants[edit]

  • Japanese: テクノロジー (tekunorojī)

Translations[edit]

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Further reading[edit]