1. A meta-thing. Used to stand for a real object in didactic examples (especially database tutorials). LeGEnd has it that the original widGEts were holders for buggy whips. "But suppose the parts list for a widGEt has 52 entries..." 2. [possibly evoking "window gadGEt"] In graphical user interfaces, a combination of a graphic symbol and some program code to perform a specific function. E.g. a scroll-bar or button. Windowing systems usually provide widGEt libraries containing commonly used widGEts drawn in a certain style and with consistent behaviour. [Jargon File]