instrumental

adjectivenouncommon in dialogue

//ɪnstɹəˈmɛntəl//
//ɪnstɹʊˈmɛntəl//

Essential or central; of great importance or relevance.

adjective

1
Essential or central; of great importance or relevance.
He was instrumental in conducting the business.
The head is not more native to the heart, The hand more instrumental to the mouth
Few songwriters have been as instrumental in creating the mold for American music.
[...] Prosser was instrumental in the decision in 2010 to recommence publication of an annual health and safety report, following a period when it had fallen into abeyance.
2
Serving as an instrument, medium, means, or agency.
Maxwell started back to his study, feeling that kind of satisfaction which a man feels when he has been even partly instrumental in finding an unemployed person a remunerative position.
3
Pertaining to, made by, or prepared for an instrument, especially a musical instrument (rather than the human voice).
instrumental music
an instrumental part
Sweet voices mix'd with instrumental sounds.
He defended the use of instrumental music in public worship.
4
Of or relating to a case expressing means or agency, generally corresponding to the English use of prepositions such as by, with, through, or by means of with the objective case.
the instrumental case

Etymology

From Middle English instrumental, instrumentale, from Medieval Latin īnstrūmentālis, equivalent to instrument + -al.

noun

1
The instrumental case.
2
A composition written or performed without lyrics or singing, using a lead instrument to replace vocals.
I recommend this album in the face of the fact that five of the eleven songs are the purest filler, dull instrumentals with a harmonica rifling over an indifferent rhythm section. The rest is magnificent […]
3
A pause in the vocals of a song, usually occurring midway through, in which a musical instrument replaces the vocals.

Forms

plural: instrumentals
comparative: more instrumental
superlative: most instrumental

instruction · The act of instructing, teaching, or providing with…instructor · One who instructs; a teacher.instrument · A device used to produce music.

instrumental · Essential or central; of great importance or relevance.

insufficient · An inadequate quantity of; not enough.insulin · A polypeptide hormone that regulates carbohydrate metabolism…insult · To be insensitive, insolent, or rude to (somebody); to…

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