Mobiles

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Capable of being moved or easily moved from place to place ; portable communication devices that can make calls and access data
2. Able to be shifted or transported readily from one location to another ; handheld electronic gadgets used for voice and internet communication
3. Something not fixed in place and can be relocated with ease ; wireless devices used for telephony and digital connectivity

Etymology: Marcel Duchamp gave the name to Alexander Calder's hanging sculptures, which were balanced arrangements of metal shapes and wire that turned and swayed in the air. Duchamp was playing on the French word "mobile," which could also mean a motive, so the name carried a second meaning as wordplay. "Mobiles" is the plural of the noun. The sense of a portable telephone is a later shortening of "mobile phone." Both senses trace back to Latin "mobilis," meaning movable, from "movere," to move.

Synonyms: cell phones, smartphones