Instrument

7 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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
        instrumented; the patient was instrumented to monitor him
        remotely.
        [PJC]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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 instruments.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              All the lofty instruments of war.     --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A contrivance or implement, by which musical sounds are
        produced; as, a musical instrument.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
                                                    --Ps. cl. 4.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              But signs when songs and instruments he hears.
                                                    --Dryden.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     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. --Burrill.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
        [1913 Webster +PJC]
  
              Or useful serving man and instrument,
              To any sovereign state.               --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The bold are but the instruments of the wise.
                                                    --Dryden.
  
     Syn: Tool; implement; utensil; machine; apparatus; channel;
          agent.
          [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  instrument
       n 1: a device that requires skill for proper use
       2: the means whereby some act is accomplished; "my greed was
          the instrument of my destruction"; "science has given us
          new tools to fight disease" [syn: {tool}]
       3: a person used by another to gain an end [syn: {pawn}, {cat's-paw}]
       4: (law) a document that states some contractual relationship
          or grants some right [syn: {legal document}, {legal
          instrument}, {official document}]
       5: the semantic role of the entity (usually inanimate) that the
          agent uses to perform an action or start a process [syn: {instrumental
          role}]
       6: any of various devices or contrivances that can be used to
          produce musical tones or sounds [syn: {musical instrument}]
       v 1: equip with instruments for measuring, recording, or
            controlling
       2: write an instrumental score for [syn: {instrumentate}]
       3: address a legal document to

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  440 Moby Thesaurus words for "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
  
  

From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) [foldoc]:

  instrument
       
           To install devices or instructions into hardware
          or software to monitor the operation of a system or component.
       
          (1996-05-22)
       
       

From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  INSTRUMENT, contracts. The writing which contains some agreement, and is so 
  called because it has been prepared as a memorial of what has taken place or 
  been agreed upon. The agreement and the instrument in which it is contained 
  are very different things, the latter being only evidence of the existence 
  of the former. The instrument or form of the contract may be valid, but the 
  contract itself may be void on account of fraud. Vide Ayl. Parerg. 305; 
  Dunl. Ad. Pr. 220. 
  
  

From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  INSTRUMENTA. This word is properly applied to designate that kind of 
  evidence, which consists of writings not under seal, as court rolls, 
  accounts, and the like. 3 Tho. Co. Litt. 487.