What is the difference between instrument and weapon?

As nouns the difference between instrument and weapon

is that instrument is a device used to produce music while weapon is an instrument of attack or defense in combat or hunting, e.g. most guns, missiles, or swords.

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

Anagrams

* ----

weapon

English

Noun

(en noun)

An instrument of attack or defense in combat or hunting, e.g. most guns, missiles, or swords.

*{{quote-magazine, date=2013-07-20, volume=408, issue=8845, magazine=(The Economist)

, title= Old soldiers? , passage=Whether modern, industrial man is less or more warlike than his hunter-gatherer ancestors is impossible to determine.

An instrument or other means of harming or exerting control over another.

*:“[…] it is not fair of you to bring against mankind double weapons ! Dangerous enough you are as woman alone, without bringing to your aid those gifts of mind suited to problems which men have been accustomed to arrogate to themselves.”

*{{quote-news, year=2011, date=January 15, author=Phil Dawkes, work=BBC

, title= Stoke 2-0 Bolton , passage=Rory Delap's long throw-ins are a familiar weapon to the Potters' opponents but this does not make them any easier to defend against.}}

Synonyms

* See also

Derived terms

* ADW * assault weapon * ATGW * atomic weapon * AWB * biological weapon * biological-weapon * bioweapon * chemical weapon * cold weapon * conventional weapon * crew-served weapon * cyberweapon * doomsday weapon * murder weapon * nonweapon * nuclear weapon * NWIP * NWS * radiological-weapon * radiological weapon * ranged weapon * section automatic weapon * siege weapon * space weapon * squad automatic weapon * superweapon * superweaponry * thermonuclear weapon * weapon of mass destruction * weaponed * weaponeer * weaponization * weaponize * weapons free * weapons-grade * weapons hold * weapons tight * weaponsmith * WMD