1
general::
instrument
verbs
play an instrument
• Can you play a musical instrument?
learn to play an instrument
( also learn an instrument )
• All students at the school have the opportunity to learn an instrument.
tune an instrument
(= make it play at the right pitch )
• The musicians were tuning their instruments before the concert began.
hire an instrument
• You could hire an instrument from a music shop.
ADJECTIVES/NOUN + instrument
a wind/woodwind instrument
• Violas blend very well with most of the wind instruments.
a brass instrument
• The tuba is the deepest of the brass instruments.
a string/stringed instrument
• He spent many hours playing string instruments of all kinds.
a keyboard instrument
• Keyboard instruments are relatively easy to learn.
a percussion instrument
(= one that you hit )
• Children can learn to play percussion instruments through games and songs.
an electronic instrument
• An electronic instrument requires no tuning and very little maintenance.
a solo instrument
(= one that can be played on its own )
• The organ has increasingly become recognized as a solo instrument in its own right.
transnet.ir
2
general::
noun tool for a particular task ADJ. precision | sophisticated | reliable | crude | blunt The autopsy revealed that the deceased had been hit with a blunt instrument. (figurative) Even though it was a somewhat blunt instrument (= not very precise), our questionnaire provided us with some interesting ideas. | sharp | small | delicate | appropriate | research | drawing, measuring, writing | astronomical, flight, flying, mathematical, medical, navigation, navigational, optical, scientific, surgical | cockpit QUANT. set a set of mathematical instruments VERB + INSTRUMENT use All pupils should learn to use drawing instruments. | check, read to read the instruments and make a note of the wind speed and direction | design, develop, devise, invent | build, make All the instruments are made from glass capillary tubing. INSTRUMENT + VERB measure sth an instrument that measures light intensity INSTRUMENT + NOUN check The pilot did his instrument checks and taxied towards the runway. | maker | panel There was a warning light flashing on the instrument panel. PHRASES an instrument of torture medieval instruments of torture such as the rack and the wheel for playing music ADJ. musical | beautiful, fine | classical | modern | period baroque music played on period instruments | solo | orchestral | brass, keyboard, percussion, string/stringed, wind, woodwind | acoustic, electric, electronic VERB + INSTRUMENT play (on) She plays three musical instruments. The score was written to be played on a keyboard instrument. | learn, learn (how) to play | tune Ensure the instrument is tuned to concert pitch. | make an instrument made by a woman guitar maker in Canada INSTRUMENT + VERB sound The instrument sounds like a cello. INSTRUMENT + NOUN makerMUSIC sb/sth used to make sth happen ADJ. chief, key, main, major, prime, principal | good, great They agreed that the UN was the best instrument for reaching agreement. | ideal | important, valuable | powerful | useful | effective | flexible | mere Some cynics say that sport is a mere instrument of capitalist domination. | chosen The despot claimed to be the chosen instrument of divine providence. | divine | political VERB + INSTRUMENT perceive sb/sth as, regard sb/sth as, see sb/sth as, view sb/sth as They saw criminal law as an instrument for improving public morals. | use sb/sth as | make sb/sth PREP. ~ for Criminal law is not the best instrument for dealing with family matters. | ~ of She was accused of making a public service an instrument of private advantage.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary