Word
devices
倾向；意愿（用于短语 left to your own devices 中）
an inclination or desire; used in the plural in the phrase 'left to your own devices'
常用复数形式
- 1.
n. an inclination or desire; used in the plural in the phrase `left to your own devices'
设备；装置；器件(device的复数)
设备；装置；器件；设备；装置；器件(device的复数)
In use
When the teacher left the students to their own devices, they started chatting.
After the project manager resigned, the team was left to their own devices to finish the work.
Parents sometimes need to leave their children to their own devices to foster independence.
adjective + devices
device 作可数名词，意为“设备、装置”。
Many electronic devices are powered by batteries.
许多电子设备由电池供电。
left to one's own devices
固定短语，意为“任由某人自行其是；无人管束”。
When left to his own devices, he often spends hours reading.
当他独自一人时，他常常花几个小时读书。
Common mistakes
I need to device a solution.I need to devise a solution.
device是名词，意为'设备'；而devise是动词，意为'设计、想出'。学习者常因拼写相似而误用名词device作动词，应使用动词devise。
He was left to his own device.He was left to his own devices.
固定短语'left to one's own devices'中的devices必须用复数形式，意为'任凭某人自行其是'。学习者容易忽略复数要求，误用单数device。
I have many device in my lab.I have many devices in my lab.
device是可数名词，复数形式为devices。汉语中'设备'可作集合名词，但英语中需要加-s表示复数。
Connections
Learner notes
Grammar Note
device的复数形式；常用于短语left to your own devices
Dictionary facts from ECDICT.