Utility - Definition

adj 1: used of beef; usable but inferior [syn: utility(a),
utility-grade]
2: capable of substituting in any of several positions on a
team; "a utility infielder" [syn: utility(a),
substitute(a)]
n 1: a company that performs a public service; subject to
government regulation [syn: utility, public utility,
public utility company, public-service corporation]
2: the quality of being of practical use [syn: utility,
usefulness] [ant: inutility, unusefulness,
uselessness]
3: the service (electric power or water or transportation)
provided by a public utility; "the cost of utilities never
decreases"; "all the utilities were lost after the hurricane"
4: (economics) a measure that is to be maximized in any
situation involving choice
5: (computer science) a program designed for general support of
the processes of a computer; "a computer system provides
utility programs to perform the tasks needed by most users"
[syn: utility program, utility, service program]
6: a facility composed of one or more pieces of equipment
connected to or part of a structure and designed to provide a
service such as heat or electricity or water or sewage
disposal; "the price of the house included all utilities"