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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Instrument \In"stru*ment\, verb (used with an object)
1. To perform upon an instrument; to prepare for an instrument; as, a sonata instrumented for orchestra.
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.0.44 [gcide]:
Instrument \In"stru*ment\, noun [F. instrument, L. instrumentum. See {Instruct}.]
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.
All the lofty instruments of war. --Shak.
2. A contrivance or implement, by which musical sounds are produced; as, a musical instrument.
Praise him with stringed instruments and organs. --Ps. cl. 4.
But signs when songs and instruments he hears. --Dryden.
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.
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.
The bold are but the instruments of the wise. --Dryden.
Syn: Tool; implement; utensil; machine; apparatus; channel; agent.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
instrument
noun
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}]
verb
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)
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