Link Centre Dictionary

instrument

inst·ru·ment

UK/ˈɪnstɹəmənt/ US/ˈɪnstɹʊmənt/ fairly common
noun (6) verb (3)

noun

1.

a device that requires skill for proper use

2.

the means whereby some act is accomplished

  • “my greed was the instrument of my destruction”
  • “science has given us new tools to fight disease”
Synonyms
3.

a person used by another to gain an end

Synonyms
4.
5.

the semantic role of the entity (usually inanimate) that the agent uses to perform an action or start a process

Synonyms
6.

any of various devices or contrivances that can be used to produce musical tones or sounds

Synonyms

verb

1.

equip with instruments for measuring, recording, or controlling

2.
3.

Origin

From Middle English instrument, from Old French instrument, from Latin īnstrūmentum (“an implement, tool”), From īnstruō (“build, construct; arrange”) + -mentum.

Phrases

  • absolute instrument
  • block instrument
  • blunt instrument
  • brass instrument
  • B♭ instrument
  • C instrument
  • cash instrument
  • chosen instrument

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

Narrower terms

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.