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Instrument vs Equipment - What's the difference?

instrument | equipment |

As nouns the difference between instrument and equipment

is that instrument is a device used to produce music while equipment is the act of equipping, or the state of being equipped, as for a voyage or expedition.

As a verb instrument

is to apply measuring devices.

instrument

English

(wikipedia instrument)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A device used to produce music.
    • The violinist was a master of her instrument .
  • A means or agency for achieving an effect.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1905, author=
    • , title= , chapter=1 citation , passage=“There the cause of death was soon ascertained?; the victim of this daring outrage had been stabbed to death from ear to ear with a long, sharp instrument , in shape like an antique stiletto, which […] was subsequently found under the cushions of the hansom. […]”}}
  • A measuring or displaying device.
    • The instrument detected an increase in radioactivity.
  • A tool, implement used for manipulation or measurement.
    • The dentist set down his tray of instruments'''.'' The scientist recorded the temperature with a thermometer but wished he had a more accurate ' instrument ."
  • (legal) A legal document, such as a contract, deed, trust, mortgage, power, indenture, or will.
    • A bond indenture is the instrument that gives a bond its value.
    Negotiable instruments are the foundation of the debt markets.
  • (figuratively) A person used as a mere tool for achieving a goal.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Or useful serving man and instrument , / To any sovereign state.
  • * Dryden
    • The bold are but the instruments of the wise.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * blunt instrument * debt instrument * derivative instrument * financial instrument * instrumentation * instrumental * instrumentive * measuring instrument * musical instrument * negotiable instrument * writing instrument

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To apply measuring devices.
  • To devise, conceive, cook up, plan.
  • To perform upon an instrument; to prepare for an instrument.
    • a sonata instrumented for orchestra

    Synonyms

    * (to apply measuring devices) measure, supervise * * (to perform on an instrument) play * (to prepare for an instrument) arrange

    See also

    * instrumental

    Anagrams

    * ----

    equipment

    English

    Noun

    (-)
  • The act of equipping, or the state of being equipped, as for a voyage or expedition.
  • * (rfdate) :
    • The equipment of the fleet was hastened by De Witt.
  • Whatever is used in equipping something or someone, for example things needed for an expedition or voyage
  • * 11 July 2013 , Jo Confino in The Guardian Online'', ''How technology has stopped evolution and is destroying the world[http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/technology-stopped-evolution-destroying-world?INTCMP=SRCH]
    • Tompkins is considered a hero in the deep ecology movement and works hand in hand with his wife Kris, the former CEO of the outdoor clothing and equipment company Patagonia.
  • * (rfdate) :
    • Armed and dight, In the equipment of a knight.

    Related terms

    * equip