Definitions for instrument
ˈɪn strə məntin·stru·ment

Princeton's WordNet(3.67 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. instrument(noun)

   a device that requires skill for proper use

2. instrument, tool(noun)

   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. instrument, pawn, cat's-paw(noun)

   a person used by another to gain an end

4. legal document, legal instrument, official document, instrument(noun)

   (law) a document that states some contractual relationship or grants some right

5. instrumental role, instrument(noun)

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

6. musical instrument, instrument(verb)

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

7. instrument(verb)

   equip with instruments for measuring, recording, or controlling

8. instrument, instrumentate(verb)

   write an instrumental score for

9. instrument(verb)

   address a legal document to

GCIDE(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Instrument(n.)

   One who, or that which, is made a means, or is caused to serve a purpose; a medium, means, or agent; as, their army was primarily an instrument of oppression.

   Etymology: [F. instrument, L. instrumentum. See Instruct.]

2. Instrument(v. t.)

   To furnish or equip with instruments; to attach instruments to; as, the fighter planes were heavily instrumented; the patient was instrumented to monitor him remotely.

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. instrument(Noun)

   A device used to produce music.

   The violinist was a master of her instrument.

   Etymology: From instrumentum. suffix -mentum.

2. instrument(Noun)

   A measuring or displaying device.

   The instrument detected an increase in radioactivity.

   Etymology: From instrumentum. suffix -mentum.

3. instrument(Noun)

   A tool, implement.

   The dentist set down his tray of instruments.

   Etymology: From instrumentum. suffix -mentum.

4. instrument(Noun)

   A legal document, such as a contract, deed, trust, mortgage, power, indenture, or will.

   Etymology: From instrumentum. suffix -mentum.

5. instrument(Noun)

   A person used as a mere tool for achieving a goal.

   Etymology: From instrumentum. suffix -mentum.

6. instrument(Verb)

   To apply measuring devices.

   Etymology: From instrumentum. suffix -mentum.

7. instrument(Verb)

   To devise, conceive, cook up, plan.

   Etymology: From instrumentum. suffix -mentum.

8. instrument(Verb)

   To perform upon an instrument; to prepare for an instrument.

   a sonata instrumented for orchestra

   Etymology: From instrumentum. suffix -mentum.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Instrument(noun)

   that by means of which any work is performed, or result is effected; a tool; a utensil; an implement; as, the instruments of a mechanic; astronomical instruments

   Etymology: [F. instrument, L. instrumentum. See Instruct.]

2. Instrument(noun)

   a contrivance or implement, by which musical sounds are produced; as, a musical instrument

   Etymology: [F. instrument, L. instrumentum. See Instruct.]

3. Instrument(noun)

   a writing, as the means of giving formal expression to some act; a writing expressive of some act, contract, process, as a deed, contract, writ, etc

   Etymology: [F. instrument, L. instrumentum. See Instruct.]

4. Instrument(noun)

   one who, or that which, is made a means, or is caused to serve a purpose; a medium, means, or agent

   Etymology: [F. instrument, L. instrumentum. See Instruct.]

5. Instrument(verb)

   to perform upon an instrument; to prepare for an instrument; as, a sonata instrumented for orchestra

   Etymology: [F. instrument, L. instrumentum. See Instruct.]

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Instrument

   Instrument is a documentary film directed by Jem Cohen about the band Fugazi. Cohen's relationship with band member Ian MacKaye extends back to the 1970s when the two met in high school in Washington, D.C.. The film takes its title from the Fugazi song of the same name, from their 1993 album, In on the Kill Taker. Editing of the film was done by both Cohen and the members of the band over the course of five years. It was shot from 1987 through 1998 on super 8, 16mm and video and is composed mainly of footage of concerts, interviews with the band members, practices, tours and time spent in the studio recording their 1995 album, Red Medicine. The film also includes portraits of fans as well as interviews with them at various Fugazi shows around the United States throughout the years. The Instrument Soundtrack by Fugazi was released in conjunction with the film. It consisted primarily of instrumental and unreleased songs. When asked what the goal was in making Instrument, Cohen responded: One such misconception is shared in a scene where drummer Brendan Canty tells his bandmates how his sister's boyfriend believes that Fugazi lives in a house together without heat and subsisting on a steady diet of nothing but rice. Cohen has also said that "[o]ne of the reasons why I work with Fugazi and they work with me is that we enjoy traveling through this madness. It's what they write songs about and it's what I try to document in my films."

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Instrument

   in′strōō-ment, n. a tool or utensil: a machine producing musical sounds: a writing containing a contract: one who, or that which, is made a means.—adj. Instrument′al, acting as an instrument or means: serving to promote an object: helpful: belonging to or produced by musical instruments: (gram.) serving to indicate the instrument or means—of a case in Sanskrit, involving the notion of by or with.—ns. Instrument′alist, one who plays on a musical instrument; Instrumental′ity, agency.—adv. Instrument′ally.—n. Instrumentā′tion (mus.), the arrangement of a composition for performance by different instruments: the playing upon musical instruments. [O. Fr.,—L. instrumentum—instruĕre, to instruct.]

Dictionary of Nautical Terms(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. instrument

   A term of extensive application among tools and weapons; but it is here introduced as an official conveyance of some right, or the record of some fact.

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. instrument

   A type of product to create music.

   Musical instruments are beautiful to hear and see people playing.

   Submitted by MaryC on March 8, 2020  

2. instrument

   An official governmental document or contract that creates types of rights or rules.

   The universal declaration of human rights forms an element various governmental instruments throughout the world and all legislation is verified to ensure it is compliant with the universal declaration of human rights.

   Submitted by MaryC on March 8, 2020  

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'instrument' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #3595

2. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'instrument' in Nouns Frequency: #848

Anagrams for instrument »

1. nutriments

How to pronounce instrument?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say instrument in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of instrument in Chaldean Numerology is: 3

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of instrument in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

Examples of instrument in a Sentence

1. Samuel Johnson:

   Language is only the instrument of science, and words are but the signs of ideas.

2. Mehmet Murat ildan:

   Sword and fist are the instruments of primitive; non-violence is the instrument of developed man!

3. Musin Almat Zhumabekovich:

   The body is a cocoon of illusions. Instincts are marketing manipulations on which they play as a musical instrument of egoism. From death, it crumbles revealing the soul, awareness and the third eye. Author: Musin Almat Zhumabekovich

4. Judge Cuno Tarfusser:

   This is not a game, the chamber will not allow this trial to be used as a political instrument in any way whatsoever.

5. Rhiannon Giddens:

   Well, you know, the original banjos were all handmade instruments. Gourd - it would be made with gourds and whatever, you know, materials would have been around. And, you know, first hundred years of its existence, the banjo's known as a plantation instrument, as a black instrument.

Images & Illustrations of instrument

Popularity rank by frequency of use