instrument

instrument
noun (C)
1 TOOL a small tool used in work such as science or medicine where very careful movements are necessary: surgical instruments
2 MUSIC an object such as a piano, horn, violin etc, used for producing musical sounds; musical instrument: stringed instruments
3 FOR MEASURING a piece of equipment for measuring and showing distance, speed, temperature etc: The pilot studied his instruments anxiously. | instrument flying/landing (=flying or bringing down an aircraft using only instruments)
4 METHOD (usually singular) a system, method, or law that is used by people in power to get a particular result: Sometimes military force can become an instrument of government policy.
5 DOCUMENT formal a legal document
6 literary instrument of fate/God someone or something that is used by an unseen power which is beyond our control
7 instrument of torture a piece of equipment used to make people suffer pain

Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.

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  • instrument — [ ɛ̃strymɑ̃ ] n. m. • 1365; estrument v. 1119; lat. instrumentum « ce qui sert à équiper », de instruere → instruire I ♦ 1 ♦ Objet fabriqué servant à exécuter qqch., à faire une opération. REM. Instrument est plus général et moins concret que… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • instrument — in·stru·ment n 1: a means or implement by which something is achieved, performed, or furthered an instrument of crime 2: a document (as a deed, will, bond, note, certificate of deposit, insurance policy, warrant, or writ) evidencing rights or… …   Law dictionary

  • instrument — INSTRUMÉNT, instrumente, s.n. 1. Unealtă, aparat cu ajutorul căruia se efectuează o anumită operaţie. ♦ Aparat construit pentru a produce sunete muzicale. 2. fig. Persoană, forţă, lucru, fapt de care se serveşte cineva pentru atingerea unui scop …   Dicționar Român

  • instrument — INSTRUMENT. s. m. Outil, ce qui sert à l ouvrier, à l artisan pour faire manuellement quelque chose. Bon instrument. instrument necessaire. instrument de Chirurgie. instruments de Charpentier, de Maçon &c. un ouvrier fourni de tous ses… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • Instrument — may refer to:* Instrument (film) * Instruments (band), a Canadian recording ensemble * Instruments (application), a performance visualizer;Types of instruments * Musical instrument, a device designed to produce music * Financial instrument, a… …   Wikipedia

  • Instrument — Instrument, und teils analog der Sammelbegriff Instrumentarium, steht: allgemein, im technischen und übertragenen Sinne, für ein Werkzeug für Musikinstrument, ein Gerät zur Erzeugung von Klängen für anzeigende Messgeräte, siehe Anzeige (Technik)… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Instrument — Sn std. (16. Jh.) Entlehnung. Entlehnt aus l. īnstrūmentum Gerät, Urkunde , Konkretum zu l. īnstrūere herrichten, ausrüsten , mit übertragener Bedeutung unterrichten (instruieren). Adjektiv: instrumental; Kollektivum: Instrumentarium.    Ebenso… …   Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache

  • Instrument — In stru*ment, n. [F. instrument, L. instrumentum. See {Instruct}.] [1913 Webster] 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • instrument — (n.) late 13c., musical instrument, from O.Fr. instrument means, device; musical instrument (14c., earlier estrument, 13c.) and directly from L. instrumentem a tool, apparatus, furniture, dress, document, from instruere arrange, furnish (see… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Instrument — In stru*ment, v. t. 1. To perform upon an instrument; to prepare for an instrument; as, a sonata instrumented for orchestra. [1913 Webster] 2. To furnish or equip with instruments; to attach instruments to; as, the fighter planes were heavily… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • instrument — instrùment m <G mn nātā> DEFINICIJA 1. a. pomagalo i oruđe za rad u laboratoriju ili u ordinaciji b. sprava za mjerenje, snimanje, pokazivanje određenih vrijednosti, posebno kao dio kontrolnog sustava [svi su instrumenti u avionu otkazali]… …   Hrvatski jezični portal

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