Origin: Latin suffix -ment
Instrument has 12 different meanings across 2 categories:
a device that requires skill for proper use
"After months of daily practice, she finally felt confident enough to perform complex passages on her cello without hesitation."
the means whereby some act is accomplished
"my greed was the instrument of my destruction"
"science has given us new tools to fight disease"
a person used by another to gain an end
"The dictator turned his rival into a mere instrument for consolidating power before having him silenced."
(law) a document that states some contractual relationship or grants some right
"The lawyer asked me to review the instrument before we signed it, as it outlined our new partnership agreement and granted exclusive rights to my designs."
the semantic role of the entity (usually inanimate) that the agent uses to perform an action or start a process
"The chef used a sharp knife as the instrument to slice the tomatoes."
any of various devices or contrivances that can be used to produce musical tones or sounds
"The violin is a delicate instrument that requires years of practice to master."
A device used to produce music.
"She carefully tuned her violin before stepping onto the stage for the concert."
In plain English: An instrument is any tool used to do a specific job or create something.
"The musician practiced her violin every day before the concert."
Usage: Use "instrument" to refer to a musical tool like a guitar or violin when discussing performance or composition. Avoid confusing it with "instrumentality," which describes the means by which something is accomplished rather than a physical object.
equip with instruments for measuring, recording, or controlling
"The new factory was designed to be equipped with advanced instruments for measuring temperature and controlling pressure levels throughout the production line."
write an instrumental score for
"The conductor asked the orchestra to begin by playing the new instrumental score she had written last night."
address a legal document to
"The attorney instructed me to make sure the check was properly addressed or instrumented to the estate trustee's name."
To apply measuring devices.
"The technician used an instrument to measure the water pressure in the pipe."
In plain English: To instrument something means to add special equipment or tools to it so it can do a specific job.
"The doctor instructed the nurse to instrument the wound with sterile tools before cleaning it."
Usage: Do not use "instrument" as a verb to mean applying measuring devices, as it is not standard English; instead, say you are using or deploying instruments. As a noun, an instrument refers to a tool or device used to perform a specific function.
Flown by reference to an aircraft's cockpit-mounted flight instruments, rather than by using visual landmarks as a guide.
"The pilot flew the plane into thick clouds and relied entirely on his instruments to navigate safely."
"The instrument panel on the dashboard lit up with warning lights."
Usage: When used as an adjective, instrument means flown by relying on cockpit gauges instead of looking outside for visual guidance. This term specifically describes aircraft operations conducted in conditions where visibility is too poor to see the ground or other planes clearly.
The word "instrument" comes from the Latin īnstrūmentum, which originally meant an implement or tool used for building or arranging things. It entered English through Middle French and Old French, retaining its sense of a device designed to perform a specific function.