1. (noun)instrument a device that requires skill for proper use
2. (noun)instrument, tool the means whereby some act is accomplished
"my greed was the instrument of my destruction"; "science has given us new tools to fight disease"
3. (noun)instrument, pawn, cat's-paw a person used by another to gain an end
4. (noun)legal document, legal instrument, official document, instrument (law) a document that states some contractual relationship or grants some right
5. (noun)instrumental role, instrument the semantic role of the entity (usually inanimate) that the agent uses to perform an action or start a process
6. (noun)musical instrument, instrument any of various devices or contrivances that can be used to producemusical tones or sounds
7. (verb)instrument equip with instruments for measuring, recording, or controlling
8. (verb)instrument, instrumentate write an instrumental score for