instrument
n. countablen. an object used for a specific job, like making music or doing science. You use it to perform a task that requires skill or precision.
n. a tool or implement used for precise work; a device for producing musical sounds. In formal contexts, it refers to a legal document or a means by which something is achieved.
She plays several musical instruments including the piano and violin.
The pilot checked the flight instruments to ensure the plane was at the correct altitude.
The treaty served as a vital instrument for peace, providing the legal framework necessary to resolve the long-standing border dispute between the two nations.
From Middle English instrument, from Old French instrument, from Latin īnstrūmentum (“an implement, tool”), From īnstruō (“build, construct; arrange”) + -mentum.
Commonly used with the preposition 'of' in formal contexts, such as 'an instrument of change' or 'an instrument of policy'.