Utility vs. Tool

Utility vs. Tool — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Utility and Tool

Utilitynoun

The state or condition of being useful; usefulness.

Toolnoun

A mechanical device intended to make a task easier.

Hand me that tool, would you?I don't have the right tools to start fiddling around with the engine.

Utilitynoun

Something that is useful.

Toolnoun

Equipment used in a profession, e.g., tools of the trade.

Utilitynoun

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

Toolnoun

Something to perform an operation; an instrument; a means.

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Utilitynoun

(philosophy) Well-being, satisfaction, pleasure, or happiness.

Toolnoun

(computing) A piece of software used to develop software or hardware, or to perform low-level operations.

The software engineer had been developing lots of EDA tools.a tool for recovering deleted files from a disk

Utilitynoun

A service provider, such as an electric company or water company; or, the securities of such a provider.

Toolnoun

A person or group which is used or controlled, usually unwittingly, by another person or group.

He was a tool, no more than a pawn to her.

Utilitynoun

(computing) 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.

I've bought a new disk utility that can recover deleted files.

Toolnoun

(slang) Penis.

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Utilitynoun

(sports) The ability to play multiple positions.

Toolnoun

An obnoxious or uptight person.

He won't sell us tickets because it's 3:01, and they went off sale at 3. That guy's such a tool.

Utilityadjective

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

utility line; utility bill

Toolverb

(transitive) To work on or shape with tools, e.g., hand-tooled leather.

Utilityadjective

Designating of a room in a house or building where mechanical equipment is installed; such as a furnace, water tank/heater, circuit breaker, and/or air conditioning unit; and often equipped with hookups for laundry equipment (washer/dryer).

utility room

Toolverb

(transitive) To equip with tools.

Utilitynoun

a company that performs a public service; subject to government regulation

Toolverb

(intransitive) To work very hard.

Utilitynoun

the quality of being of practical use

Toolverb

To put down another person (possibly in a subtle, hidden way), and in that way to use him or her to meet a goal.

Dude, he's not your friend. He's just tooling you.

Utilitynoun

the service provided by a utility company;

the cost of utilities never decreases

Toolverb

To intentionally attack the ball so that it deflects off a blocker out of bounds.

Utilitynoun

(economics) a measure that is to be maximized in any situation involving choice

Toolverb

To drive (a coach, etc.)

Utilitynoun

(computer science) a program designed for general support of the processes of a computer;

a computer system provides utility programs to perform the tasks needed by most users

Toolverb

To travel in a vehicle; to ride or drive.

Utilitynoun

a facility composed of one or more pieces of equipment connected to or part of a structure and designed to provide a service such as heat or electricity or water or sewage disposal;

the price of the house included all utilities

Toolnoun

an implement used in the practice of a vocation

Utilityadjective

used of beef; usable but inferior

Toolnoun

the means whereby some act is accomplished;

my greed was the instrument of my destructionscience has given us new tools to fight disease

Utilityadjective

capable of substituting in any of several positions on a team;

a utility infielder

Toolnoun

a person who is controlled by others and is used to perform unpleasant or dishonest tasks for someone else

Toolnoun

obscene terms for penis

Toolverb

drive;

The convertible tooled down the street

Toolverb

ride in a car with no particular goal and just for the pleasure of it;

We tooled down the street

Toolverb

furnish with tools

Toolverb

work with a tool