instrument
Noun · VerbOpen English WordNet
Noun (6)instruments
- a device that requires skill for proper useType of deviceKinds weapon, whip, analyzer, egg candler, instrument of execution, bolus hook, surveying instrument, extractor, engine, measuring instrument +12 more
- 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: toolType of means, agency
- a person used by another to gain an endSynonyms: pawncat's-pawType of assistant, helper
- (law) a document that states some contractual relationship or grants some rightSynonyms: legal documentlegal instrumentofficial documentType of document, written documentKinds tax return, act, law, bill, license, will, mandate, indictment, assignment, deed +24 more
- the semantic role of the entity (usually inanimate) that the agent uses to perform an action or start a processSynonyms: instrumental roleType of semantic role, participant role
- any of various devices or contrivances that can be used to produce musical tones or soundsSynonyms: musical instrumentType of deviceKinds percussion instrument, keyboard instrument, jew's harp, stringed instrument, bass, electronic instrument, wind instrument, calliope, barrel organ, music box +1 more
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Translations
Noun tool, implement
- Spanish
- instrumento
- German
- Instrument
- Italian
- strumento
- Portuguese
- instrumento
- Turkish
- alet
- Russian
- инструме́нт instrumént
- Arabic
- آلَة ʔāla
- Chinese
- 工具 gōngjù
- Japanese
- 器械 kikai
- Dutch
- instrument
24 more languages
- Polish
- instrument
- Swedish
- instrument
- Greek
- εργαλείο ergaleío
- Korean
- 도구 dogu
- Vietnamese
- dụng cụ
- Hungarian
- műszer
- Portuguese (PT)
- instrumento
- Chinese (Trad.)
- 工具 gōngjù
- Albanian
- vegël
- Catalan
- instrument
- Czech
- nástroj
- Danish
- instrument
- Finnish
- väline
- Georgian
- ინსტრუმენტი insṭrumenṭi
- Hebrew
- כלי kli
- Latvian
- rīks
- Lithuanian
- prietaisas
- Norwegian
- redskap
- Romanian
- instrument
- Scottish Gaelic
- inneal
- Serbo-Croatian
- alat
- Slovak
- nástroj
- Slovenian
- orodje
- Welsh
- offeryn
Noun musical device
- Spanish
- instrumento
- French
- instrument
- German
- Instrument
- Italian
- strumento
- Portuguese
- instrumento
- Turkish
- enstrüman
- Russian
- инструме́нт instrumént
- Arabic
- آلَة مُوسِيقِيَّة ʔāla mūsīqiyya
- Chinese
- 乐器 yuèqì
- Japanese
- 楽器 gakki
36 more languages
- Dutch
- instrument
- Polish
- instrument
- Swedish
- instrument
- Greek
- όργανο órgano
- Korean
- 악기 akgi
- Indonesian
- alat musik
- Vietnamese
- nhạc cụ
- Hungarian
- hangszer
- Portuguese (PT)
- instrumento
- Chinese (Trad.)
- 樂器 yuèqì
- Albanian
- instrument muzikor
- Breton
- benveg-seniñ
- Catalan
- instrument
- Corsican
- strumentu
- Czech
- nástroj
- Danish
- musikinstrument
- Esperanto
- instrumento
- Estonian
- pill
- Finnish
- soitin
- Georgian
- მუსიკალური ინსტრუმენტი musiḳaluri insṭrumenṭi
- Hebrew
- כלי נגינה kli negina
- Icelandic
- hljóðfæri
- Kurdish
- amûra muzîkê
- Latvian
- instruments
- Lithuanian
- instrumentas
- Malagasy
- zavamaneno
- Norwegian
- instrument
- Romanian
- instrument
- Scottish Gaelic
- ionnsramaid
- Serbo-Croatian
- instrument
- Slovak
- hudobný nástroj
- Slovenian
- instrument
- Swahili
- ala ya muziki
- Walloon
- instrumint d' muzike
- Welsh
- offeryn cerdd
- Yiddish
- אינסטרומענט instrument
The main translation for each meaning, from the langtolang.com multilingual dictionary. Each word links to its full entry there.
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: F. instrument, L. instrumentum. See Instruct.
1. That by means of which any work is performed, or result is effected; a tool; a utensil; an implement; a device; as, the instruments of a mechanic; astronomical instruments.
All the lofty instruments of war.— William Shakespeare
2. A contrivance or implement, by which musical sounds are produced; as, a musical instrument.
Praise him with stringed instruments and organs.— Ps. cl. 4.
But signs when songs and instruments he hears.— John Dryden
3. Law 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. Alexander Mansfield. Burrill
4. 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.
Or useful serving man and instrument, To any sovereign state.— William Shakespeare
The bold are but the instruments of the wise.— John Dryden
Synonyms: Tool; implement; utensil; machine; apparatus; channel; agent.
1. To perform upon an instrument; to prepare for an instrument; as, a sonata instrumented for orchestra.
2. 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.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54 · with additions: +PJC, GCIDE editors
Free On-line Dictionary of Computing
<programming> To install devices or instructions into hardware or software to monitor the operation of a system or component.
(1996-05-22)