apparatus
/ˌæpəˈreɪtəs/noun
(pl. apparatuses)
1
- mass noun the equipment needed for a particular activity or purpose设备：
laboratory apparatus.
实验室设备。
1.1
- the organs used to perform a particular bodily function（发挥身体某一功能的）器官：
the specialized male and female sexual apparatus.
男女特有的性器官。
2
- a complex structure within an organization or system（某一组织或系统内部的）复杂结构：
the apparatus of government.
政府的内部结构。
3
- （亦作critical apparatus）a collection of notes, variant readings, and other matter accompanying a printed text（印刷文本后面所附的）注释、文选及其他资料。亦称APPARATUS CRITICUS.
词源
early 17th cent.: from Latin， from apparare 'make ready for'， from ad- 'towards' + parare 'make ready'.