| accelerometer |
an instrument that measures acceleration. |
| accordion |
a portable musical instrument having a keyboard and a pleated bellows that forces air through metal reeds to produce tones. [1/2 definitions] |
| acoustic |
producing sound without electronic or electric means, as a musical instrument. [1/3 definitions] |
| aeolian harp |
a musical instrument consisting of an open box with gut strings stretched across it that produce rising and falling sounds when wind passes over them. |
| altazimuth |
a telescope or other instrument that moves in altitude (up and down) and in azimuth (back and forth). |
| alto |
a musical instrument having the second highest tonal range in its family of instruments. [2/5 definitions] |
| ammeter |
an instrument that measures the magnitude of an electrical current in amperes. |
| anemograph |
an instrument used to measure and record the speed of the wind. |
| anemometer |
an instrument that measures the speed and force of the wind. |
| anvil |
the fixed jaw in a measuring instrument such as calipers. [1/3 definitions] |
| aperture |
an opening, often adjustable, that controls the amount of light reaching the lens on a camera or other optical instrument. [1/2 definitions] |
| armillary sphere |
an ancient sighting instrument formed of rings that are arranged in the positions of the tropics, equator, and the like. |
| arthroscope |
an instrument in the shape of a fine tube that is used, in conjunction with fiber optics, for diagnosing and treating ailments of the joint. |
| astrolabe |
an instrument used by the ancient Greeks and medieval Arabs to determine the position of heavenly bodies, later replaced by the sextant. |
| audiometer |
an instrument that measures range and degree of hearing ability. |
| auscultation |
listening to the heart, lungs, or the like for the purpose of medical diagnosis, usu. with a stethoscope or other instrument. |
| automatic pilot |
an instrument that automatically keeps an aircraft, missile, or the like on a predetermined course at a specific altitude. [1/2 definitions] |
| ax |
(slang) a musical instrument, such as a guitar. [1/4 definitions] |
| bagpipe |
(often pl.) a musical instrument, played esp. in Scotland, consisting of a double-reed melody pipe and one or more drone pipes that protrude from a flexible leather bag that is inflated through a blowpipe by the breath or by bellows. The pipes are traditionally made of wood. |
| balalaika |
a guitarlike musical instrument that has a triangular body and usu. three strings. |
| banjo |
a musical instrument with a circular body covered with skin, a long fretted neck, and four or five strings that are plucked or strummed. |