Library / English Dictionary

GIMMICK

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any clever maneuver

Example:

a cheap promotions gimmick for greedy businessmen

Synonyms:

device; gimmick; twist

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("gimmick" is a kind of...):

maneuver; manoeuvre; tactical maneuver; tactical manoeuvre (a move made to gain a tactical end)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "gimmick"):

mnemonic (a device (such as a rhyme or acronym) used to aid recall)

fast one; trick (a cunning or deceitful action or device)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Something unspecified whose name is either forgotten or not known

Example:

there may be some great new gizmo around the corner that you will want to use

Synonyms:

doodad; doohickey; doojigger; gimmick; gismo; gizmo; gubbins; thingamabob; thingamajig; thingmabob; thingmajig; thingumabob; thingumajig; thingummy; whatchamacallit; whatchamacallum; whatsis; widget

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("gimmick" is a kind of...):

stuff (miscellaneous unspecified objects)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A drawback or difficulty that is not readily evident

Example:

it sounds good but what's the catch?

Synonyms:

catch; gimmick

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("gimmick" is a kind of...):

drawback (the quality of being a hindrance)

Credits