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instrument

noun
/ˈɪnstɹəmənt/

Etymology

From Middle English instrument, from Old French instrument, from Latin īnstrūmentum (“an implement, tool”), From īnstruō (“build, construct; arrange”) + -mentum.

  1. derived from īnstrūmentum
  2. derived from instrument
  3. inherited from instrument

Definitions

  1. A device used to produce music.

    • The violinist was a master of her instrument.
    • The Harpe. […] A harper with his wreſt maye tune the harpe wrong / Mys tunying of an Inſtrument ſhal hurt a true ſonge
    • But those who attack violists shouldn't throw resin. Once the ergonomic viola catches on what instrument will be immune?

  2. A means or agency for achieving an aspect.

  3. A measuring or displaying device.

    • The instrument detected an increase in radioactivity.
  4. ›+ 6 more definitions

    1. A tool, implement used for manipulation or measurement.

      • The dentist set down his tray of instruments.
      • The scientist recorded the temperature with a thermometer, but wished he had a more accurate instrument.

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

      • A bond indenture is the instrument that gives a bond its value.
      • Negotiable instruments are the foundation of the debt markets.

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

      • Or useful serving man and instrument, / To any sovereign state.
      • The bold are but the instruments o' the wise.

    4. To apply measuring devices.

      • an instrumented test article

    5. To devise, conceive, cook up, plan.

      • When the Lit. Mongers deign to notice his work, they dismiss him as a "cult writer," another of their standard ploys. Purdy, not really bitter at the instrumented silence and sneers of the bookchat legions, […]

    6. To perform upon an instrument

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

      • a sonata instrumented for orchestra

The neighborhood

Derived

absolute instrument, bioinstrument, block instrument, blunt instrument, brass instrument, B♭ instrument, cash instrument, chosen instrument, C instrument, debt instrument, derivative instrument, E♭ instrument, financial instrument, F instrument, flight instrument, hyperinstrument, instrument approach, instrumentary, instrumentation, instrument flight rules, instrument flying, instrument guidance system, instrumentist, instrumentive, instrument landing system, instrumentlike, instrumently, instrument maker, instrument meteorological conditions, instrument panel, instrument-shaped object, keyboard instrument, law of the instrument, legal instrument, Maisonneuve's instrument, measuring instrument, microinstrument, monetary instrument, musical instrument, negotiable instrument · +13 more

Vish — recursive loop

A definitional loop anchored at instrument. Each word in the ring is defined by the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself. Scroll to it and watch.

01instrument02measuring03measurement04magnitude05importance06standing07cut

A definitional loop anchored at instrument. Each word in the ring appears in the definition of the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself.

7 hops · closes at instrument

curated · pre-corpus. live cycle detection across the full graph is the next major milestone.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA