instrument en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (California, US) audio
- /ˈɪnstɹʊmənt/
- /ˈɪnstɹəmənt/
Etymology
From Middle English instrument, from Old French instrument, from Latin īnstrūmentum (“an implement, tool”), From īnstruō (“build, construct; arrange”) + -mentum.
Meanings
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A device used to produce music.
The violinist was a master of her instrument.
MOHAMMAD REZA SHAJARIAN (Thursday) Renowned in his native Iran, the vocalist Mohammad Reza Shajarian has been performing since the 1960s, and is now widely considered one of the finest classical Persian singers in the world. Mr. Shajarian’s son, Homayoun Shajarian, will provide additional vocals and tombak (goblet drum), while Ensemble Ava, a four-piece, will contribute additional instrumentation on the ancient Persian instruments barbat (short-necked lute), tar (long-necked lute), kamancheh (spike fiddle) and daf (frame drum).
2008 May 30, The New York Times, “Pop and Rock Listings”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 09 Apr 2022:But those who attack violists shouldn't throw resin. Once the ergonomic viola catches on what instrument will be immune?
1997 August 9, Edward Rothstein, “A Comeback for the Viola. No Joking.”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 27 Feb 2021:The Harpe. […] A harper with his wreſt maye tune the harpe wrong / Mys tunying of an Inſtrument ſhal hurt a true ſonge
1568, William Cornishe [i.e., William Cornysh], “In the Fleete Made by Me William Cornishe otherwise Called Nyshwhete Chapelman with the Most Famose and Noble Kyng Henry the VII. His Reygne the XIX. Yere the Moneth of July. A Treatise betwene Trouth, and Information.”, in John Skelton, edited by J[ohn] S[tow], Pithy Pleasaunt and Profitable Workes of Maister Skelton, Poete Laureate, Imprinted at London: In Fletestreate, neare vnto St Dunstan-in-the-West by Thomas Marshe, →OCLC; republished as Pithy Pleasaunt and Profitable Workes of Maister Skelton, Poete Laureate to King Henry the VIIIth, London: Printed for C. Davis in Pater-noster Row, 1736, →OCLC, page 290:
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A means or agency for achieving an aspect.
On the rocky island of Tungyin, 50 miles off the coast of Red China, is the headquarters of a little-known military unit called the Anti-Communist Salvation Army. The secret army, 30,000 strong, is Chiang Kai-shek's instrument for the long-promised return to the mainland.
1963 January 11, “The World”, in Time, volume LXXXI, number 2, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 32, column 3:“There the cause of death was soon ascertained ; the victim of this daring outrage had been stabbed to death from ear to ear with a long, sharp instrument, in shape like an antique stiletto, which […] was subsequently found under the cushions of the hansom. […]”
1904–1905, Baroness Orczy [i.e., Emma Orczy], “The Tremarn Case”, in The Case of Miss Elliott, London: T[homas] Fisher Unwin, published 1905, →OCLC; republished as popular edition, London: Greening & Co., 1909, OCLC 11192831, quoted in The Case of Miss Elliott (ebook no. 2000141h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg of Australia, February 2020:
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A measuring or displaying device.
The instrument detected an increase in radioactivity.
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A tool, implement used for manipulation or measurement.
The scientist recorded the temperature with a thermometer, but wished he had a more accurate instrument.
The dentist set down his tray of instruments.
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(abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis, plural-normally) A tool, implement used for manipulation or measurement. ▸ Ellipsis of flight instrument.
alt of flight instrument
Flight within clouds must be made by reference to your instruments.
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A legal document, such as a contract, deed, trust, mortgage, power, indenture, or will, or any of a class of negotiable ones (which can be exchanged for value or money).
A bond indenture is the instrument that gives a bond its value.
Negotiable instruments are the foundation of the debt markets.
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(figuratively) A person used as a mere tool for achieving a goal.
The bold are but the instruments o' the wise.
1670, John Dryden, The Conquest of Granada:Or useful serving man and instrument, / To any sovereign state.
c. 1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Iohn”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii]:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| instruments | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
statutory instrument · brass instrument · blunt instrument · law of the instrument · percussion instrument · bioinstrument · chosen instrument · transit instrument · debt instrument · reed instrument · universal instrument · instrument-shaped object · negotiable instrument · time-delay measuring instrument · microinstrument · instrument meteorological conditions · instrumentlike · stringed instrument · reinstrument · measuring instrument · string instrument · instrument flight rules · E♭ instrument · Maisonneuve's instrument · instrument guidance system · hyperinstrument · woodwind instrument · instrument maker · instrumentary · keyboard instrument · legal instrument · B♭ instrument · instrumently · wind instrument · instrument panel · instrumentist · flight instrument · monetary instrument · Sabouraud-Noiré instrument · F instrument · derivative instrument · instrumentation · instrument nurse · instrument landing system · absolute instrument · financial instrument · block instrument · instrument approach · on instruments · C instrument · musical instrument · cash instrument · instrumentive · instrument flying
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
hammer · musical instrument · axe · screwdriver · saw · pliers · wrench · pincers
Relateds
construe · instrumental · :Category:Tools
Synonyms
machine · tool · implement · instrument · utensil
Translations (215)
tg олат (tool) · pt instrumento (musical device) · ru инструме́нт (tool) · fr instrument (musical device) · es herramienta (tool) · is hljóðfæri (musical device) · es instrumento (musical device) · da musikinstrument (musical device) · ja 鳴らし物 (musical device) · th ตราสาร (legal document) · am መሣሪያ (tool) · pl przybór (tool) · he כלי נגינה (musical device) · el υποχείριο (person used as a mere tool) · sk nástroj (tool) · sv mätinstrument (measuring device) · eo instrumento (musical device) · de Urkunde (legal document) · lt įrankis (tool) · gl instrumento (musical device) · el όργανο (musical device) · tr enstrüman (tool) · hy գործիք (tool) · jv piranti (tool) · es instrumento (person used as a mere tool) · gd inneal-ciùil (musical device) · ja 器械 (tool) · ka იარაღი (tool) · he כלי (tool) · fi väline (tool) · cmn 仪表 (measuring device) · mi mea whakatangi (musical device) · ja 遊び物 (musical device) · fi instrumentti (musical device) · el όργανο (measuring device) · oc instrument (tool) · pl narzędzie (tool) · tk gural (tool) · ar الة موسيقية (musical device) · ro instrument (musical device) · fa ابزار (tool) · cs nástroj (musical device) · hi मापन (measuring device) · pl instrument (legal document) · ast instrumentu (musical device) · sl glasbilo (musical device) · fi soitin (musical device) · ro aparat (measuring device) · uk інструме́нт (tool) · ca instrument (musical device) · uz asbob (tool) · be інструме́нт (tool) · izh pribora (measuring device) · gd inneal-tomhais (measuring device) · es instrumento (legal document) · bg апарат (measuring device) · ru акт (legal document) · vi dụng cụ (tool) · hi वाद्य (musical device) · cmn 工具 (tool) · nan-hbl kang-kū (zh-min-nan) (tool) · ko 악기 (musical device) · ko 기구 (tool) · ja 鳴り物 (musical device) · da måleinstrument (measuring device) · pl przyrząd (measuring device) · tg асбоб (tool) · fi mittalaite (measuring device) · pl przyrząd (tool) · da måleudstyr (measuring device) · ru устро́йство (measuring device) · el εργαλείο (tool) · th เครื่องดนตรี (musical device) · nl instrument (measuring device) · da måleapparat (measuring device) · ko 기계 (tool) · sl orodje (tool) · lv ierīce (tool) · hu műszer (tool) · bo ལག་ཆ (tool) · it strumento (tool) · pl urządzenie (measuring device) · ta இசைக்கருவி (musical device) · es instrumento (tool) · gd ionnsramaid (musical device) · lv rīks (tool) · kl nipilersuut (musical device) · la organum (musical device) · sl instrument (musical device) · nl instrument (tool) · ky аспап (tool) · gd inneal (tool) · uk інструме́нт (musical device) · id instrumen (musical device) · da instrument (tool) · grc ὄργανον (musical device) · cs přístroj (measuring device) · he מכשיר (measuring device) · ms alat (tool) · ml സംഗീത ഉപകരണം (musical device) · bg оръдие (person used as a mere tool) · it strumento (measuring device) · ro instrument (measuring device) · bg музикален инструмент (musical device) · sh alat (tool) · de Instrument (measuring device) · vi nhạc cụ (musical device) · eo aparato (measuring device) · he מסמך (legal document) · de Messinstrument (measuring device) · ga ionstraim (tool) · bo རོལ་ཆའི་ཡོ་བྱད (musical device) · da instrument (musical device) · ca instrument (legal document) · ca instrument (tool) · ru инструме́нт (legal document) · ru прибо́р (measuring device) · ko 도구 (tool) · nl muziekinstrument (musical device) · ga gléas (musical device) · grc ἐργαλεῖον (tool) · ar آلَة (tool) · sq vegël (musical device) · de Werkzeug (tool) · et muusikariist (musical device) · de Handlanger (person used as a mere tool) · ru приспособле́ние (tool) · ja 計器 (measuring device) · pt aparelho (measuring device) · de Dokument (legal document) · fr instrument de mesure (measuring device) · te పనిముట్టు (tool) · kk аспап (tool) · az alət (tool) · ca instrument (person used as a mere tool) · cmn 仪器 (measuring device) · hi उपकरण (tool) · ur اوزار (musical device) · nn instrument (musical device) · hi साधन (tool) · mi paraha (tool) · tk esbap (tool) · nl meetinstrument (measuring device) · de Musikinstrument (musical device) · pl instrument (tool) · ga uirlis (musical device) · ko 계기 (measuring device) · pl narzędzie (person used as a mere tool) · hi बाजा (musical device) · de Instrument (musical device) · bg прибор (measuring device) · no måleapparat (measuring device) · sl inštrument (musical device) · ga ionstraim (musical device) · lt instrumentas (musical device) · cs nástroj (tool) · nl meter (measuring device) · ka ინსტრუმენტი (tool) · nan-hbl khì-kū (tool) · izh pribora (tool) · no redskap (tool) · et pill (musical device) · fi välikappale (person used as a mere tool) · ga ionstraim (legal document) · sq vegël muzikor (musical device) · bg инструме́нт (tool) · da værktøj (tool) · tg абзор (tool) · ar أَدَاة (tool) · lv instruments (musical device) · fa اسباب (tool) · th เครื่อง (tool) · pl instrument (musical device) · bg оръ́дие (tool) · lt prietaisas (tool) · ko 증서 (legal document) · chr ᎧᏃᎩᏍᏙᏗ (musical device) · de Instrument (tool) · et vahend (tool) · cy teclyn (tool) · fr acte (legal document) · jv perkakas (tool) · ru ору́дие (tool) · el έγγραφο (legal document) · ko 앞잡이 (person used as a mere tool) · fi mittari (measuring device) · ru прибо́р (tool) · sv instrument (musical device) · pt instrumento (tool) · th เครื่องมือวัด (measuring device) · th เครื่องมือ (person used as a mere tool) · ur آلہ (tool) · ja 楽器 (musical device) · pt instrumento (measuring device) · io muzikilo (musical device) · io muzik-instrumento (musical device) · lt įrankis (person used as a mere tool) · hu hangszer (musical device) · ja 器具 (tool) · ur ساز (musical device) · ru инструме́нт (musical device) · izh asu (tool) · nl instrument (musical device) · ga adhbh cheoil (musical device) · el ενεργούμενο (person used as a mere tool) · ru гра́мота (legal document) · nb instrument (musical device) · it strumento (musical device) · jv alat (tool) · tr alet (tool) · izh tööriista (tool) · la instrūmentum (tool) · sv instrument (tool) · sh алат (tool) · bg сечиво́ (tool)