device / apparatus
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device
A technical object, apparatus, or machine that has been designed for a specific purpose.
Alle elektrischen Geräte müssen vor dem Verlassen des Büros ausgeschaltet werden.
All electrical devices must be switched off before leaving the office.
'Gerät' (device/apparatus) is a very general word. To make it more specific, it is often used in compound nouns, e.g. 'Haushaltsgerät' (household appliance), 'Elektrogerät' (electrical device), or 'Sportgerät' (sports equipment).
Die Waschmaschine ist ein wichtiges Haushaltsgerät.
The washing machine is an important household appliance.
In connection with technical devices, the verbs 'einschalten' (to switch on), 'ausschalten' (to switch off), 'bedienen' (to operate), and 'anschließen' (to connect/plug in) are commonly used.
Kannst du mir zeigen, wie man dieses Gerät bedient?
Can you show me how to operate this device?
The meaning 'Sportgerät' (sports apparatus/equipment) is used almost only in the context of sports, especially gymnastics. Signal words include verbs like 'turnen' (to do gymnastics) or nouns like 'Sporthalle' (gymnasium/sports hall) and 'Übung' (exercise).
Sie turnt am liebsten am Stufenbarren, einem schwierigen Gerät.
She likes doing gymnastics on the uneven bars best, a difficult apparatus.
facility / attachment / investment
'die Anlage' and 'das Gerät' can both refer to something technical. 'Gerät' usually means a single technical object that you use, for example a mobile phone, a printer, or a machine. 'Anlage' is more likely to mean a larger technical system with several parts, for example a 'Heizungsanlage' (heating system) or an 'Alarmanlage' (alarm system). Learners may confuse the words because both have to do with technology. If it is a single apparatus, 'Gerät' usually fits. If several parts work together, 'Anlage' is more natural.
Johanna hat das Gerät neu gestartet, weil der Bildschirm schwarz blieb.
Johanna restarted the device because the screen stayed black.
Vor dem Wochenende kontrolliert der Hausmeister die neue Heizungsanlage.
Before the weekend, the caretaker checks the new heating system.