noun
1 tool for a particular task
ADJECTIVE
▪ precision , sensitive
▪ sophisticated
▪ reliable
▪ crude
▪ blunt
▪
The autopsy revealed that the deceased had been hit with a blunt ~.
▪
Even though it was a somewhat blunt ~ (= not very precise) , our questionnaire provided us with some interesting ideas.
▪ sharp
▪ small
▪ delicate
▪ appropriate
▪ drawing , measuring , writing
▪ astronomical , mathematical , medical , navigation , navigational , optical , scientific , surgical
▪ cockpit , flight
… OF INSTRUMENTS
▪ set
▪
a set of mathematical ~s
VERB + INSTRUMENT
▪ use
▪
All students should learn to use drawing ~s.
▪ check , read
▪
to read the ~s and make a note of the wind speed and direction
▪ design , develop , devise , invent
▪ build , make
▪
All the ~s are made from glass capillary tubing.
INSTRUMENT + VERB
▪ measure sth
▪
an ~ that measures light intensity
INSTRUMENT + NOUN
▪ check
▪
The pilot did his ~ checks in preparation for take-off.
▪ maker
▪ panel
▪
There was a warning light flashing on the ~ panel.
PHRASES
▪ an ~ of torture
▪
medieval ~s of torture such as the rack and the wheel
2 for playing music
ADJECTIVE
▪ musical
▪ beautiful , fine
▪ classical
▪ modern
▪ traditional
▪ period
▪
baroque music played on period ~s
▪ solo
▪ orchestral
▪ brass , keyboard , percussion , string , stringed , wind , woodwind
▪ acoustic , electric , electronic
VERB + INSTRUMENT
▪ play
▪
She plays three musical ~s.
▪ learn , learn to play
▪ tune
▪ make
▪
an ~ made by a violin maker in Canada
INSTRUMENT + VERB
▪ sound
▪
The ~ sounds like a cello.
INSTRUMENT + NOUN
▪ maker
PREPOSITION
▪ on an/the ~
▪
The piece can be played on a keyboard ~.
3 sb/sth used to make sth happen
ADJECTIVE
▪ chief , key , main , major , primary , principal
▪ good , great
▪
Internet polls are considered to be better ~s than telephone polls.
▪ ideal
▪ important , valuable
▪ powerful
▪ useful
▪ effective
▪
More effective ~s of oversight are needed.
▪ flexible
▪ mere
▪
Some cynics say that popular music is a mere ~ of capitalist domination.
▪ chosen
▪
The despot claimed to be the chosen ~ of divine providence.
▪ political
▪ financial , legal
VERB + INSTRUMENT
▪ regard sb/sth as , see sb/sth as , view sb/sth as
▪
They saw criminal law as an ~ for improving public morals.
▪ use sb/sth as
▪ make sb/sth
PREPOSITION
▪ ~ for
▪
Criminal law is not the best ~ for dealing with family matters.
▪ ~ of
▪
the use of language as an ~ of power and social control