Instrument

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: in=stru=ment

CIDE DICTIONARY

Instrument, n. [F. instrument, L. instrumentum. See Instruct.].

•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "All the lofty instruments of war."  [1913 Webster]
•  A contrivance or implement, by which musical sounds are produced; as, a musical instrument.  [1913 Webster]

  "Praise him with stringed instruments and organs."  [1913 Webster]

  "But signs when songs and instruments he hears."  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  Burrill.  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "Or useful serving man and instrument,
  To any sovereign state."  [1913 Webster]

  "The bold are but the instruments of the wise."

Syn. -- Tool; implement; utensil; machine; apparatus; channel; agent.

Instrument, v. t. 

•  To perform upon an instrument; to prepare for an instrument; as, a sonata instrumented for orchestra.  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [PJC]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Instrument, n. & v.
--n.
1 a tool or implement, esp. for delicate or scientific work.
2 (in full musical instrument) a device for producing musical sounds by vibration, wind, percussion, etc.
3 a a thing used in performing an action (the meeting was an instrument in his success). b a person made use of (is merely their instrument).
4 a measuring-device, esp. in an aeroplane, serving to determine its position in darkness etc.
5 a formal, esp. legal, document.
--v.tr.
1 arrange (music) for instruments.
2 equip with instruments (for measuring, recording, controlling, etc.).

Idiom

instrument board (or panel) a surface, esp. in a car or aeroplane, containing the dials etc. of measuring-devices.

Etymology

ME f. OF instrument or L instrumentum (as INSTRUCT)

THESAURUS

Instrument

Bourdon tube, Charlie McCarthy, Danish balance, Federal, Gramophone, Gyropilot, Mach meter, Roman balance, Teletype, Weightometer, X-ray machine, absolute altimeter, accelerometer, adapt, aerial reconnaissance camera, aerometer, aeroscope, agency, agent, air log, alloy balance, altigraph, altimeter, amanuensis, ammeter, analytical balance, ancilla, anemograph, anemometer, anemoscope, aneroid, antler, apparatus, apple-polisher, appliance, arrange, aspirator, ass-licker, assay balance, autograph, automatic pilot, autosyn, awl, backslapper, baggage agent, balance, balance of precision, barb, barbed wire, barblet, barbule, barbwire, barometer, barrel scale, beam, bedpan, blank, bodkin, bombing locator, bombsight, bootlick, bootlicker, bradawl, brown-nose, brownie, bullion balance, business agent, calorimeter, caltrop, card compass, carpet tack, cash register, catalyst, catheter, channel, cheval-de-frise, chirograph, chromatoscope, chronograph, chronometer, chuck, claim agent, clamp, clasp, clawback, clerk, clinch, clinical thermometer, clip, cockspur, commercial agent, commission agent, compact, compass, compose, consignee, contract, contraption, contrivance, control rod, counter scale, courtier, cramp, creature, cringer, customer agent, cylinder scale, device, diathermy machine, dibble, direction finder, docket, document, dog, dossier, drain, drum scale, dummy, dupe, electrocardiograph, electroencephalograph, electrograph, equipment, evaporimeter, facsimile telegraph, factor, fan scale, fawner, fed, federal agent, fid, file, fishhook, flatterer, flexure plate scale, flight recorder, flunky, footlicker, forceps, fork, form, freight agent, functionary, gadget, gaff, galvanometer, gauge, gauger, gear, general agent, gimcrack, gimlet, gimmick, gizmo, go-between, goad, goniometer, gosport, gosport tube, grab, grapnel, grapple, grappler, grappling iron, grip, groveler, gyrocompass, hand tool, handmaid, handmaiden, handshaker, harmonize, harpoon, hat pin, heat lamp, helot, hemostat, holdfast, holograph, hook, horn, hub dynamometer, hygrograph, hygrometer, hypo, hypodermic, hypodermic needle, hypsometer, icepick, implement, inclinometer, induction compass, instrumentality, instrumentate, instrumentation, insurance agent, interagent, intermediary, intermediate, intermedium, jackal, jaws, joy stick, kaleidoscope, kowtower, kymograph, lackey, lance, lancet, land agent, laser, law agent, led captain, legal document, legal instrument, legal paper, lever, lever scales, lickspit, lickspittle, literary agent, loan agent, long-arm balance, machine, machinery, magnetic compass, make an adaptation, manometer, marlinespike, mealymouth, mean, means, measure, measurer, mechanical device, mechanical heart, mechanism, mechanize, mediator, medium, melodize, meteorograph, meter, microfilm reader, micrometer, microscope, midwife, mill, minion, ministry, motorize, musicalize, nail, needle, news agent, nippers, octant, official, official document, optical altimeter, orchestrate, organ, oscillograph, otoscope, oxgoad, ozonometer, pact, pair of scales, paper, paper clip, papers, paraphernalia, parchment, pari-mutuel, pari-mutuel machine, parliamentary agent, passenger agent, pawn, peon, personal file, photometer, pike, pin, pincers, pitchfork, pitot-static tube, plate fulcrum scale, platform scale, plaything, pliers, pluviograph, pluviometer, pneumatograph, pneumatometer, potentiometer, power tool, precision balance, precision scale, precision tool, press agent, prime mover, prism, probe, prong, punch, puppet, purchasing agent, pus basin, put to music, pyrometer, quadrant, quill, radar, radio, radio compass, radio direction finder, radiogoniometer, range finder, rate-of-climb indicator, real estate agent, recording barometer, recording hygrometer, register, retool, robot pilot, roll, rowel, sales agent, scale, scales, scalpel, score, scrip, script, scroll, secretary, seismograph, seismoscope, serf, servant, set, set to music, sextant, sharpen, short-arm balance, skewer, slave, sound, sound recorder, spaniel, spearhead, special agent, spectrograph, spectrohelioscope, spectroscope, speculum, speed tool, spicule, spiculum, spike, spine, spiral balance, spirit level, spirometer, spit, splint, spur, staple, static tube, station agent, stereopticon, stethoscope, steward, sting, stooge, strike radar scanner, suck, sun compass, suture, swab, sycophant, syringe, tachometer, tack, tackle, tang, tape recorder, teletypewriter, telltale, theatrical agent, thermograph, thermometer, thermometrograph, thermostat, thingumabob, thingumajig, thingummy, throttle, thumbtack, ticker, ticket agent, timeserver, tine, toad, toady, tongs, tool, toy, transcribe, transit instrument, transpose, travel agent, trepan, trephine, truckler, tufthunter, turnstile, tweezers, utensil, variometer, vehicle, venturi tube, viewer, viscosimeter, vise, voting machine, walking delegate, way, weigh scales, weighbridge, weighing machine, weight voltameter, whatnot, wherewithal, wrench, writ, write, writing, yes-man, yoke

ROGET THESAURUS

Instrument

Instrumentality

N instrumentality, aid, subservience, subserviency, mediation, intervention, medium, intermedium, vehicle, hand, agency, minister, handmaid, midwife, accoucheur, accoucheuse, obstetrician, gobetween, cat's-paw, stepping-stone, opener, key, master key, passkey, latchkey, open sesame, passport, passe-partout, safe-conduct, password, instrument, expedient, means, instrumental, useful, ministerial, subservient, mediatorial, intermediate, intervening, conducive, through, by, per, whereby, thereby, hereby, by the agency of, by dint of, by virtue of, in virtue of, through the medium of, along with, on the shoulders of, by means of, by the aid of, with the aid of, per fas et nefas, by fair means or foul, somehow, somehow or other, by hook or by crook.

Instrument

N instrument, machinery, mechanism, engineering, instrument, organ, tool, implement, utensil, machine, engine, lathe, gin, mill, air engine, caloric engine, heat engine, gear, tackle, tackling, rig, rigging, apparatus, appliances, plant, materiel, harness, trappings, fittings, accouterments, barde, equipment, equipmentage, appointments, furniture, upholstery, chattels, paraphernalia, mechanical powers, lever, leverage, mechanical advantage, crow, crowbar, handspike, gavelock, jemmy, jimmy, arm, limb, wing, oar, paddle, pulley, wheel and axle, wheelwork, clockwork, wheels within wheels, pinion, crank, winch, cam, pedal, capstan, wheel, inclined plane, wedge, screw, spring, mainspring, can hook, glut, heald, heddle, jenny, parbuckle, sprag, water wheel, handle, hilt, haft, shaft, heft, shank, blade, trigger, tiller, helm, treadle, key, turnscrew, screwdriver, knocker, hammer, edge tool, borer, vice, teeth, nail, rope, peg, support, spoon, arms, oar, cardiograph, recapper, snowplow, tenpenny, votograph, instrumental, mechanical, machinal, brachial, instrument, machinery, mechanism, engineering, instrument, organ, tool, implement, utensil, machine, engine, lathe, gin, mill, air engine, caloric engine, heat engine, gear, tackle, tackling, rig, rigging, apparatus, appliances, plant, materiel, harness, trappings, fittings, accouterments, barde, equipment, equipmentage, appointments, furniture, upholstery, chattels, paraphernalia, mechanical powers, lever, leverage, mechanical advantage, crow, crowbar, handspike, gavelock, jemmy, jimmy, arm, limb, wing, oar, paddle, pulley, wheel and axle, wheelwork, clockwork, wheels within wheels, pinion, crank, winch, cam, pedal, capstan, wheel, inclined plane, wedge, screw, spring, mainspring, can hook, glut, heald, heddle, jenny, parbuckle, sprag, water wheel, handle, hilt, haft, shaft, heft, shank, blade, trigger, tiller, helm, treadle, key, turnscrew, screwdriver, knocker, hammer, edge tool, borer, vice, teeth, nail, rope, peg, support, spoon, arms, oar, cardiograph, recapper, snowplow, tenpenny, votograph, instrumental, mechanical, machinal, brachial.

Security

N security, guaranty, guarantee, gage, warranty, bond, tie, pledge, plight, mortgage, collateral, debenture, hypothecation, bill of sale, lien, pawn, pignoration, real security, vadium, stake, deposit, earnest, handsel, caution, promissory note, bill, bill of exchange, I, O, U, personal security, covenant, specialty, parole, acceptance, indorsement, signature, execution, stamp, seal, sponsor, cosponsor, sponsion, sponsorship, surety, bail, mainpernor, hostage, godchild, godfather, godmother, recognizance, deed of indemnity, covenant of indemnity, authentication, verification, warrant, certificate, voucher, docket, doquet, record, probate, attested copy, receipt, acquittance, quittance, discharge, release, muniment, title deed, instrument, deed, deed poll, assurance, indenture, charter, charter poll, paper, parchment, settlement, will, testament, last will and testament, codicil, bonis avibus, gone where the woodbine twineth.