instrument
noun [ C ] uk/ˈɪn.strə.mənt/ us/ˈɪn.strə.mənt/
(MUSIC)
A2 (also musical instrument)乐器
an object, such as a piano, guitar, or drum, that is played to produce musical sounds
Which instrument do you play? 你演奏哪一种乐器？
- More examples
- When a piece of music is recorded, each instrument is recorded separately on a 24- or 48-track tape.
- If you want to learn to play a musical instrument, it might be a good idea to begin on something simple.
- This wooden instrument is the ancestor of the modern metal flute.
- The family all play instruments - they're all very musical.
- The trumpet and trombone are brass instruments.
(TOOL)
C1 器械
a tool or other device, especially one without electrical power, used for performing a particular piece of work
surgical instruments 外科手术器械
instruments of torture 刑具
The man's injuries had obviously been caused by a blunt instrument. 这人的伤口显然是由钝器所致。
（尤指飞机上的）仪器，仪表
a device used for measuring speed, height, etc. in vehicles, especially aircraft
the instrument panel 仪表板
The lightning had damaged the plane's instruments, and they weren't giving any readings. 闪电击毁了飞机的仪表，上面什么数据都显示不出来。
C2 formal手段
a way of achieving or causing something
He saw the theatre as an instrument of change - a way of forcing people to consider social and political issues. 他把戏剧看作变革的手段——一种迫使人们考虑社会及政治问题的方法。
- More examples
- The main instruments are in the centre of the control panel.
- The doctor used a sharp instrument to dig a piece of glass out of my finger.
- Lewis estimates that 40 to 80 percent of dentists actually autoclave their instruments as they should.
- The museum has a large collection of vicious medieval torture instruments.
- The instrument panel was brightly illuminated.
(FINANCE)
可以在金融市场上进行交易的投资（或政府债券）
a type of investment in a company or in government debt that can be traded on the financial markets
They trade in the debt instruments of developing countries. 他们对发展中国家的债卷进行交易。
increasingly complex financial instruments 越来越复杂的财务债券