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applicator

applicator

6 4.3
A small tool used to put a liquid or cream on a surface
  • noun
  • /ˈæplɪˌkeɪtər/
translation icon : aplicador
  • You screw in the applicator tip.
  • pesticide applicators
  • herbicide applicators
  • cotton-tipped applicator

This is such a great applicator for that precision.

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Examples

  • And now back in with my red stain straight from the applicator this time.

  • It has a stiff applicator, which I like for lips.

  • I have to show you the new applicator stick that I do use.

  • This is such a great applicator for that precision.

  • And then I'm going to take the applicator, which looks like that.

  • It's this slanted flat applicator, so it's much easier to kind of smooth over.

  • It's a literal brush applicator, which I think is so cute.

  • I love these doe foot applicators on concealers.

  • Certainly, she holds a brush-like applicator in her right hand as she applies pigment to the hair.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Each bottle of polish comes with its own applicator brush, making the job easy.

Synonyms

spreader
vsapplicator
1 3.2

A small tool used to put soft food like butter or cheese on bread

applies substances more generally, not only for thin even covering
applier
vsapplicator
7.8

A tool for putting liquid or paste onto a surface

has identical meaning but is an alternate term for the same device
inserter
vsapplicator
4.7

A machine or person that puts items into other objects, for example letters into envelopes

focuses more on placing into something rather than onto surfaces
instillator
vsapplicator
  • Specialized
9.9

A device that puts liquid into a part of the body, like the eye, drop by drop

is a general device for placing substances onto surfaces or into things

Compounds

flux applicator
  • Specialized
7.0

A small tool for putting flux on metal before soldering

How Precise

to pipet
  • Specialized
5.5
dropper
5 2.7
to brush
242 1.0
applicator
6 4.3
sprayer
4 2.4
roller
20 2.0

Surface Forms

applicator singular
applicators plural

Morphology

applicator = apply (transparent) = apply + or

Formed by the verb 'apply' plus the agentive/device suffix '-or', producing a straightforward meaning 'a thing that applies'.

Etymology

Applicator comes from the same root as apply, from an old Latin word plicare meaning 'to attach' or 'to put on'. So an applicator is a tool for putting or pressing a substance onto a surface.