WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024in•stru•ment /ˈɪnstrəmənt/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
- a mechanical implement, esp. one used for delicate work:surgical instruments.
- Music and Dancea device for producing musical sounds:Her instrument is the trombone.
- a means by which something is done:an instrument of government.
- a device for measuring the value of something watched, esp. one used in navigation of aircraft:Suddenly the instruments went dead.
- Business, Lawa formal legal document, such as a draft or bond:negotiable instruments.
See -stru-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024in•stru•ment
(in′strə mənt),USA pronunciation n.
- a mechanical tool or implement, esp. one used for delicate or precision work:surgical instruments.
- a contrivance or apparatus for producing musical sounds:a stringed instrument.
- a means by which something is effected or done;
agency:an instrument of government.
- a device for measuring the present value of a quantity under observation.
- a mechanical or electronic measuring device, esp. one used in navigation:landing a plane by instruments.
- a formal legal document, as a draft or bond:negotiable instruments.
- a person used by another merely as a means to some private end;
tool or dupe.
v.t.
- to equip with instruments, as a machine or manufacturing process:to instrument a space vehicle.
- to arrange a composition for musical instruments;
orchestrate.
- Latin instrūmentum equip-ment, equivalent. to instrū-, stem of instruere to equip (see instruct) + -mentum -ment; see instruct
- Middle English 1250–1300
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged See tool.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
instrument n /ˈɪnstrəmənt/- a mechanical implement or tool, esp one used for precision work
- any of various contrivances or mechanisms that can be played to produce musical tones or sounds
- an important factor or agency in something: her evidence was an instrument in his arrest
- informal a person used by another to gain an end; dupe; tool
- a measuring device, such as a pressure gauge or ammeter
- a device or system for use in navigation or control, esp of aircraft
- (as modifier): instrument landing
- a formal legal document
vb /ˈɪnstrəˌmɛnt/(transitive)- another word for orchestrate
- to equip with instruments
Etymology: 13th Century: from Latin instrūmentum tool, equipment, from instruere to erect, furnish; see instruct
'instrument' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):