Definition: gadget

(1) For devices that connect to Amazon Echos, see Alexa Gadget.

(2) Pronounced "gah-jit," slang for any hardware device, which is typically small. Synonymous with "gizmo." Smartphones, tablets and portable game and music players are sometimes placed in the gadget category. See fondleslab.

(3) Pronounced "gah-jit, a mini app that stays on screen to provide quick functionality. Search box, clock, weather, calculator and stock market gadgets are typical examples. The gadget may be static, such as a calculator, that requires input from the user, or be "live" and changing such as the weather and stock markets.

Gadgets were available on Windows starting with Windows 7, the Google Desktop and the personal home pages of Windows Live and iGoogle. Gadgets on smartphones, tablets, the Mac desktop and other environments, gadgets are called "widgets" ("wih-jits"). See widget, Sidebar, Google Desktop and iGoogle.

Windows Gadgets

Available in Windows Vista and 7, Gadgets were dropped in Windows 8, although live tiles offered similar functions (see live tiles).