| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. |
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| SYLLABICATION: | in·stru·ment |
| PRONUNCIATION: |   n str -mnt |
| NOUN: | 1. A means by which something is done; an agency. 2. One used by another to accomplish a purpose; a dupe. 3. An implement used to facilitate work. See synonyms at tool. 4. A device for recording, measuring, or controlling, especially such a device functioning as part of a control system. 5. Music A device for playing or producing music: a keyboard instrument. 6. A legal document, such as a deed, will, mortgage, or insurance policy. | | TRANSITIVE VERB: | Inflected forms: in·stru·ment·ed, in·stru·ment·ing, in·stru·ments
(-m nt )1. To provide or equip with instruments. 2. Music To compose or arrange for performance. 3. To address a legal document to. | | ETYMOLOGY: | Middle English, from Old French, from Latin  nstr mentum, tool, implement, from nstruere, to prepare. See instruct.
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| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
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