noun
1. the means whereby some act is accomplished
e.g. my greed was the instrument of my destruction
science has given us new tools to fight disease
Synonym: tool
2. a device that requires skill for proper use
3. any of various devices or contrivances that can be used to produce musical tones or sounds
Synonym: musical instrument
4. the semantic role of the entity (usually inanimate) that the agent uses to perform an action or start a process
Synonym: instrumental role
5. (law) a document that states some contractual relationship or grants some right
Synonym: legal documentlegal instrumentofficial document
6. a person used by another to gain an end
Synonym: pawncat's-paw
instrument
verb
1. address a legal document to
2. write an instrumental score for
Synonym: instrumentate
3. equip with instruments for measuring, recording, or controlling