See Also: Instrument(medicine)
Instrument(money)
instrument(1)(dictionary)
instrument(2)(dictionary)
instrument(dictionary)
Statuary Instrument(law)
negotiable instrument(encyclopedia)
brass instrument(encyclopedia)
Instrument (as used in expressions)(encyclopedia)
Underlying instrument(finance)

instrument(1) (iou)



instrument noun. ME.
[Old & mod. French from Latin instrumentum, from instruere: see INSTRUCT verb, -MENT.]
A thing used in or for performing an action; a means. ME.
H. J. Laski The Cabinet..had already become the fundamental administrative instrument. D. M. Frame For self-study the material is experience, the instrument judgment.
b. transf. A person so made use of. ME.
New York Times The accused assassin must be an instrument of the radical right.
More fully musical instrument. A contrivance or device for producing musical sounds by vibration, wind, percussion, etc. ME.
original instrument: see ORIGINAL adjective.
B. Emecheta They heard stringed instruments like guitars.
Law. A formal legal document. LME.
I. Murdoch A sort of informal document, not..a legal instrument, was drawn up. G. F. Kennan It would be wrong to attribute excessive importance to the instruments signed at Brest-Litovsk.
b. Scots Law. A formal and duly authenticated record, drawn up by a notary public, of any transaction. M16.
A part of the body having a special function; an organ. LME-E18.
A tool, an implement, esp. one used for delicate or scientific work. LME.
P. Gallico The chattering sound of printing machines, stock tickers and telegraph instruments. P. O'Brian The surgeons were putting a final razor edge on their instruments.
b. A device whose function is to register and measure; spec. a measuring-device in an aeroplane etc. serving to determine the position or speed. L17.
C. A. Lindbergh It was often necessary to fly through them, navigating by instruments only. D. Bagley All instruments would be working, recording air pressure, humidity, temperature.
c. Apparatus. Only in L17.
Comb.: instrument board, instrument panel a surface, esp. in a car or aeroplane, containing the dials etc. of measuring instruments.