Instrument
noun
A tool or device used for a specific task, mainly to make or mend things.
He uses a variety of instruments to fix the car.
Often appears as...
- surgical instrument
- precision instrument
noun
A device used for producing music.
She plays three instruments: piano, violin, and guitar.
Often appears as...
- play an instrument
- musical instrument
noun
A means by which something is achieved, done, or acted upon.
Education can be an instrument of social change.
Often appears as...
- instrument of change
- instrument of policy
noun
A formal written legal document, such as a contract or will.
The loan agreement was a legally binding instrument.
Often appears as...
- legal instrument
- binding instrument
Usage tips
Formal
noun
A tool or implement used in science, like a microscope or telescope.
This lab is equipped with all the necessary scientific instruments.
Often appears as...
- scientific instrument
- measuring instrument
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A tool or device used for a specific task, mainly to make or mend things.
He uses a variety of instruments to fix the car.
Often appears as...
- surgical instrument
- precision instrument
noun
A device used for producing music.
She plays three instruments: piano, violin, and guitar.
Often appears as...
- play an instrument
- musical instrument
noun
A means by which something is achieved, done, or acted upon.
Education can be an instrument of social change.
Often appears as...
- instrument of change
- instrument of policy
noun
A formal written legal document, such as a contract or will.
The loan agreement was a legally binding instrument.
Often appears as...
- legal instrument
- binding instrument
Usage tips
Formal
noun
A tool or implement used in science, like a microscope or telescope.
This lab is equipped with all the necessary scientific instruments.
Often appears as...
- scientific instrument
- measuring instrument
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 5
Pro Tip 1/3Practical Use
Focus on the physical tasks 'instrument' can perform, like cutting or measuring.
He picked up the instrument to tighten the screws.
Pro Tip 2/3Tangible Objects
'Instrument' refers to items you can actually touch, not abstract tools.
The dentist's instruments were sterilized before use.
Pro Tip 3/3Specificity
'Instrument' often indicates a specialized object designed for particular tasks.
A carpenter uses specific instruments to carve wood.
Pro Tip 1/3Practical Use
Focus on the physical tasks 'instrument' can perform, like cutting or measuring.
He picked up the instrument to tighten the screws.
Pro Tip 2/3Tangible Objects
'Instrument' refers to items you can actually touch, not abstract tools.
The dentist's instruments were sterilized before use.
Pro Tip 3/3Specificity
'Instrument' often indicates a specialized object designed for particular tasks.
A carpenter uses specific instruments to carve wood.
Pro Tip 1/3Practical Use
Focus on the physical tasks 'instrument' can perform, like cutting or measuring.
He picked up the instrument to tighten the screws.
Pro Tip 2/3Tangible Objects
'Instrument' refers to items you can actually touch, not abstract tools.
The dentist's instruments were sterilized before use.
Pro Tip 3/3Specificity
'Instrument' often indicates a specialized object designed for particular tasks.
A carpenter uses specific instruments to carve wood.
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Video examples
How playing an...
Playing a musical instrument engages practically every area of the brain at once, especially the visual, auditory, and motor cortices. As with any other workout, disciplined, structured practice in playing music strengthens those brain functions, allowing us to apply that strength to other activities.
Video examples
Why are some people...
many of the important instruments that have shaped society were designed for the right-handed majority. Because lefties are worse at using these tools, and suffer from higher accident rates, they would be less successful in a purely cooperative world, eventually disappearing from the population.
Video examples
Fred Jansen: How to land...
The lander -- again, lots of instruments, mostly comparable except for the things which hammer in the ground and drill, etc. But much the same as Rosetta, and that is because you want to compare what you find in space with what you find on the comet. These are called ground truth measurements.
Video examples
How to read music - Tim...
the pitch of the note or what note to play, and the left-to-right axis tells the performer the rhythm of the note or when to play it. Let's start with pitch. To help us out, we're going to use a piano, but this system works for pretty much any instrument you can think of.
Video examples
What a World Champion...
the techniques that people use for example I've developed all these funky techniques is the regular lip whistle but I can also whistle with my tongue and then go so I use those as embellishments to mimic an instrument or to add diversity and it really helps me
Video examples
How brass instruments...
String instruments are plucked or bowed. Woodwinds have air blown against a reed or sharp edge. For brass instruments, however, the vibration come directly from the musician's mouth. One of the first things a brass player must learn is to breathe in deeply,
Video examples
How to practice...
Mastering any physical skill, be it performing a pirouette, playing an instrument, or throwing a baseball, takes practice. Practice is the repetition of an action with the goal of improvement, and it helps us perform with more ease, speed, and confidence.
Video examples
Rhythm in a box: The...
Some need a stand or a stool. But the cajon is a drum, a stand and a seat all in one convenient box. And this simplicity may be key to its journey across continents and cultures to become one of the most popular percussion instruments in the world today.
Video examples
The real meaning of soul...
hidden right underneath the bridge which transmits the vibration of the strings to the body of the instrument the soul is what allows the violin to resonate to reach out into the world what then if we were to reach out to if we were to let
Video examples
These Rats Can Detect...
This is the instrument that makes us to communicate with the animal. The moment when the animal hears this sound means that it has to stop what it is doing and then come for food. They then have to learn that sniffing in a hole
Video examples
How playing an...
Playing a musical instrument engages practically every area of the brain at once, especially the visual, auditory, and motor cortices. As with any other workout, disciplined, structured practice in playing music strengthens those brain functions, allowing us to apply that strength to other activities.
Video examples
Why are some people...
many of the important instruments that have shaped society were designed for the right-handed majority. Because lefties are worse at using these tools, and suffer from higher accident rates, they would be less successful in a purely cooperative world, eventually disappearing from the population.
Video examples
Fred Jansen: How to land...
The lander -- again, lots of instruments, mostly comparable except for the things which hammer in the ground and drill, etc. But much the same as Rosetta, and that is because you want to compare what you find in space with what you find on the comet. These are called ground truth measurements.
Video examples
How to read music - Tim...
the pitch of the note or what note to play, and the left-to-right axis tells the performer the rhythm of the note or when to play it. Let's start with pitch. To help us out, we're going to use a piano, but this system works for pretty much any instrument you can think of.
Video examples
What a World Champion...
the techniques that people use for example I've developed all these funky techniques is the regular lip whistle but I can also whistle with my tongue and then go so I use those as embellishments to mimic an instrument or to add diversity and it really helps me
Video examples
How brass instruments...
String instruments are plucked or bowed. Woodwinds have air blown against a reed or sharp edge. For brass instruments, however, the vibration come directly from the musician's mouth. One of the first things a brass player must learn is to breathe in deeply,
Video examples
How to practice...
Mastering any physical skill, be it performing a pirouette, playing an instrument, or throwing a baseball, takes practice. Practice is the repetition of an action with the goal of improvement, and it helps us perform with more ease, speed, and confidence.
Video examples
Rhythm in a box: The...
Some need a stand or a stool. But the cajon is a drum, a stand and a seat all in one convenient box. And this simplicity may be key to its journey across continents and cultures to become one of the most popular percussion instruments in the world today.
Video examples
The real meaning of soul...
hidden right underneath the bridge which transmits the vibration of the strings to the body of the instrument the soul is what allows the violin to resonate to reach out into the world what then if we were to reach out to if we were to let
Video examples
These Rats Can Detect...
This is the instrument that makes us to communicate with the animal. The moment when the animal hears this sound means that it has to stop what it is doing and then come for food. They then have to learn that sniffing in a hole
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Nina Simone
American Musician
Did you know that the human voice is the only pure instrument? That it has notes no other instrument has? It's like being between the keys of a piano. The notes are there, you can sing them, but they can't be found on any instrument. That's like me. I live in between this. I live in both worlds, the black and white world.
Quote examples
Lyndon B. Johnson
American President
I am concerned about the whole man. I am concerned about what the people, using their government as an instrument and a tool, can do toward building the whole man, which will mean a better society and a better world.
Quote examples
Amanda Gorman
American Poet
Poetry is - it's an art form, but, to me, it's also a weapon, it's also an instrument. It's the ability to make ideas that have been known, felt and said. And that's a real, I think, type of duty for the poet.
Quote examples
P. J. O'Rourke
American Comedian
Conservatives really don't believe in politics as the primary instrument of getting along in life and therefore don't tend to put their energy into it a way people left of center do.
Quote examples
Yoko Ono
American Artist
I've always said that I use my voice as an instrument. It was something I created myself, and I said, 'Have voice, will travel.
Quote examples
Taylor Swift
American Singer
Anything that encourages people to pick up an instrument and play, I'm fully behind.
Quote examples
Francis of Assisi
Italian Saint
Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Quote examples
Park Chan-wook
South Korean Director
There's a humble beauty about listening to period instruments that I like.
Quote examples
Laurie Anderson
American Musician
Something that has so much power must have life. Instruments have life.
Quote examples
Henry Ward Beecher
American Clergyman
Riches are not an end of life, but an instrument of life.
Quote examples
Nina Simone
American Musician
Did you know that the human voice is the only pure instrument? That it has notes no other instrument has? It's like being between the keys of a piano. The notes are there, you can sing them, but they can't be found on any instrument. That's like me. I live in between this. I live in both worlds, the black and white world.
Quote examples
Lyndon B. Johnson
American President
I am concerned about the whole man. I am concerned about what the people, using their government as an instrument and a tool, can do toward building the whole man, which will mean a better society and a better world.
Quote examples
Amanda Gorman
American Poet
Poetry is - it's an art form, but, to me, it's also a weapon, it's also an instrument. It's the ability to make ideas that have been known, felt and said. And that's a real, I think, type of duty for the poet.
Quote examples
P. J. O'Rourke
American Comedian
Conservatives really don't believe in politics as the primary instrument of getting along in life and therefore don't tend to put their energy into it a way people left of center do.
Quote examples
Yoko Ono
American Artist
I've always said that I use my voice as an instrument. It was something I created myself, and I said, 'Have voice, will travel.
Quote examples
Taylor Swift
American Singer
Anything that encourages people to pick up an instrument and play, I'm fully behind.
Quote examples
Francis of Assisi
Italian Saint
Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Quote examples
Park Chan-wook
South Korean Director
There's a humble beauty about listening to period instruments that I like.
Quote examples
Laurie Anderson
American Musician
Something that has so much power must have life. Instruments have life.
Quote examples
Henry Ward Beecher
American Clergyman
Riches are not an end of life, but an instrument of life.
Example 1 of 10
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