instrument
[noun]
Synonyms:
- tool, apparatus, appliance, contraption (informal), device, gadget, implement, mechanism
- means, agency, agent, mechanism, medium, organ, vehicle

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Related Words: equipment, gear, machinery, paraphernalia, tackle

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

in‧stru‧ment W2 /ˈɪnstrəmənt, ˈɪnstrʊmənt/ noun [countable]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Latin; Origin: instrumentum, from instruere; ⇒ instruct]

1. TOOL a small tool used in work such as science or medicine:
surgical instruments

2. MUSIC an object used for producing music, such as a piano or violin Synonym : musical instrument ⇒ instrumental, instrumentalist:
electronic instruments
brass/wind/percussion/stringed etc instrument

3. FOR MEASURING a piece of equipment for measuring and showing distance, speed, temperature etc:
a failure of the flight instruments
sensitive earthquake-detecting instruments

4. METHOD [usually singular] something or someone that is used to get a particular result
instrument of
Interest rates are an important instrument of economic policy.
instrument for (doing) something
Good management should be an instrument for innovation.

5. FOR HURTING something that is used to hit or hurt someone:
Death was due to a blow on the head with a blunt instrument.
instrument of torture (=an object used to make people suffer pain until they give information)

6. instrument of fate/God literary someone or something that is used by a power beyond our control

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

instrument
noun
I. tool for a particular task
ADJ. precision | sophisticated | reliable | crude | blunt The autopsy revealed that the deceased had been hit with a blunt instrument. (figurative) Even though it was a somewhat blunt instrument (= not very precise), our questionnaire provided us with some interesting ideas.
sharp | small | delicate | appropriate | research | drawing, measuring, writing | astronomical, flight, flying, mathematical, medical, navigation, navigational, optical, scientific, surgical | cockpit
QUANT. set a set of mathematical instruments
VERB + INSTRUMENT use All pupils should learn to use drawing instruments.
check, read to read the instruments and make a note of the wind speed and direction
design, develop, devise, invent | build, make All the instruments are made from glass capillary tubing.
INSTRUMENT + VERB measure sth an instrument that measures light intensity
INSTRUMENT + NOUN check The pilot did his instrument checks and taxied towards the runway.
maker | panel There was a warning light flashing on the instrument panel.
PHRASES an instrument of torture medieval instruments of torture such as the rack and the wheel

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

instrument
II. for playing music
ADJ. musical | beautiful, fine | classical | modern | period baroque music played on period instruments
solo | orchestral | brass, keyboard, percussion, string/stringed, wind, woodwind | acoustic, electric, electronic
VERB + INSTRUMENT play (on) She plays three musical instruments. The score was written to be played on a keyboard instrument.
learn, learn (how) to play | tune Ensure the instrument is tuned to concert pitch.
make an instrument made by a woman guitar maker in Canada
INSTRUMENT + VERB sound The instrument sounds like a cello.
INSTRUMENT + NOUN maker
 ⇒ Special page at MUSIC

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

instrument
III. sb/sth used to make sth happen
ADJ. chief, key, main, major, prime, principal | good, great They agreed that the UN was the best instrument for reaching agreement.
ideal | important, valuable | powerful | useful | effective | flexible | mere Some cynics say that sport is a mere instrument of capitalist domination.
chosen The despot claimed to be the chosen instrument of divine providence.
divine | political
VERB + INSTRUMENT perceive sb/sth as, regard sb/sth as, see sb/sth as, view sb/sth as They saw criminal law as an instrument for improving public morals.
use sb/sth as | make sb/sth
PREP. ~ for Criminal law is not the best instrument for dealing with family matters.
~ of She was accused of making a public service an instrument of private advantage.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

instrument

play an instrument
Can you play a musical instrument?
learn to play an instrument (also learn an instrument)
All students at the school have the opportunity to learn an instrument.
tune an instrument (=make it play at the right pitch)
The musicians were tuning their instruments before the concert began.
hire an instrument
You could hire an instrument from a music shop.
a wind/woodwind instrument
Violas blend very well with most of the wind instruments.
a brass instrument
The tuba is the deepest of the brass instruments.
a string/stringed instrument
He spent many hours playing string instruments of all kinds.
a keyboard instrument
Keyboard instruments are relatively easy to learn.
a percussion instrument (=one that you hit)
Children can learn to play percussion instruments through games and songs.
an electronic instrument
An electronic instrument requires no tuning and very little maintenance.
a solo instrument (=one that can be played on its own)
The organ has increasingly become recognized as a solo instrument in its own right.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲