instrumental

  1. Adjective.  Acting as an instrument; serving as a means; contributing to promote; conductive; helpful; serviceable; essential or central.
  2. Adjective.  (music) Pertaining to, made by, or prepared for, an instrument, especially a musical instrument; as, '''instrumental''' music, distinguished from '''vocal''' music.
  3. Adjective.  (grammar) Applied to a case expressing means or agency—and is generally indicated in English by '''by''' or '''with''' with the objective; as, the '''instrumental''' case. This is found in Sanskrit as a separate case, but in Greek it was merged into the dative, and in Latin into the ablative. In Old English it was a separate case, but has disappeared, leaving only a few anomalous forms. It continues to be used in Slavic languages.
  4. Noun.  (context, uncountable) The instrumental case.
  5. Noun.  (context, countable) A composition without lyrics.

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This entry was last updated on RefTopia from its source on 3/20/2012.