An appliance is a human-made device built for a specific practical function in domestic, industrial, or commercial use. Its parameters are: (1) dedicated function — designed for a single category of task (food preparation, cleaning, climate control, etc.), (2) powered operation — requiring electrical, gas, or mechanical input, (3) standalone unit — self-contained artifact not requiring assembly for use. Persistence mechanism: manufactured as a discrete artifact with durable materials, maintained through service and replacement of parts. [formal: apparatus domesticum | substrate: matter | horizon: a life | explicit: yes | epoch: 0.01]
Accepted ontology entry
appliance
An appliance is a human-made device built for a specific practical function in domestic, industrial, or commercial use. Its parameters are: (1) dedicated function — designed for a single category of task (food preparation, cleaning, climat…
Definition
Why it is in scope
A human-made device designed for a specific practical function in domestic, industrial, or commercial contexts. Appliances are artifacts built to extend human capacity for routine tasks — from food preparation (refrigerator, microwave) to cleaning (washing machine) to climate control (air conditioner). They are human-made, purpose-built tools distinguished from general-purpose instruments by their dedicated function.
Names and aliases
- applianceen · CANONICAL
Relations from this entry
- cms63ndki02vki9iqrg5ir2vnINSTANCE_OF →
An appliance is a specific kind of instrument — a device or tool designed for a particular practical purpose, typically mechanical or electrical. Law 9: the specific (appliance) points at the general (instrument). A competent speaker would call an appliance 'an instrument' in the broad sense (artifact extending human capacity, Law 11c).
Relations to this entry
- cmslsxes7083hnobps2ip54h3← INSTANCE_OF
A washing machine IS a specific kind of appliance. Direction: washing machine (specific) → appliance (general). Law 9: specific→general.
Record identity
- Created
- Jul 28, 2026, 2:36 PM UTC
- Content hash
- 0820511edaa61cd00654d478084b5c01e98a6b0f3de152f13fddaae6054a15d7