1. (

• utility ,
• public_utility ,
• public_utility_company ,
• public-service_corporation

) a company that performs a public service; subject to government regulation ;

2. (

• utility ,
• usefulness

) the quality of being of practical use ;

3. (

• utility

) 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. (

• utility

) (economics) a measure that is to be maximized in any situation involving choice ;

5. (

• utility_program ,
• utility ,
• service_program

) (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" ;

6. (

• utility

) 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" ;

1. (

• utility ,
• utility-grade

) used of beef; usable but inferior ;

2. (

• utility ,
• substitute ,

) capable of substituting in any of several positions on a team; "a utility infielder" ;