Inflected forms: pl. apparatus or ap·pa·rat·us·es 1a. An appliance or device for a particular purpose: an x-ray apparatus.b. An integrated group of materials or devices used for a particular purpose: dental apparatus. See synonyms at equipment. 2a. The totality of means by which a designated function is performed or a specific task executed, as in a system of government. b. A political organization or an underground political movement. Also called apparat. 3.Physiology A group or system of organs that collectively perform a specific function or process: the respiratory apparatus; the digestive apparatus.4. The critical and source material that accompanies an edition of a text.
ETYMOLOGY:
Latin appartus, preparation, from past participle of apparre, to prepare : ad-, ad- + parre, to prepare; see per-1 in Appendix I.
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