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implement

/ˈɪmplɪmɪnt/
/ˈɪmpləmənt/
IPA guide

Other forms: implements; implemented; implementing

Apply the noun implement when you want to use a fancy word for "tool." A knife and fork are implements for handling food.

The noun implement is a very useful word for just about anything you want to describe as a tool or a thing that helps you do something. An implement can be as simple as chimpanzees using a stick to eat ants with or a bulldozer that moves huge amounts of earth in building. The word relates to something that "fills up" a house, as in all sorts of things that allow a house to work properly.

Definitions of implement
  1. noun
    instrumentation (a piece of equipment or tool) used to effect an end
    see moresee less
    types:
    bar
    a rigid piece of metal or wood; usually used as a fastening or obstruction or weapon
    beater
    an implement for beating
    brush
    an implement that has hairs or bristles firmly set into a handle
    buff, buffer
    an implement consisting of soft material mounted on a block; used for polishing (as in manicuring)
    candlesnuffer
    an implement with a small cup at the end of a handle; used to extinguish the flame of a candle
    cleaning device, cleaning equipment, cleaning implement
    any of a large class of implements used for cleaning
    eraser
    an implement used to erase something
    fire iron
    metal fireside implements
    flail
    an implement consisting of handle with a free swinging stick at the end; used in manual threshing
    hook
    a curved or bent implement for suspending or pulling something
    branding iron, iron
    implement used to brand live stock
    leather strip
    implement consisting of a strip of leather
    needle
    a sharp pointed implement (usually steel)
    oar
    an implement used to propel or steer a boat
    rod
    a long thin implement made of metal or wood
    sharpener
    any implement that is used to make something (an edge or a point) sharper
    snuffer
    a cone-shaped implement with a handle; for extinguishing candles
    fishgig, fizgig, gig, lance, spear
    an implement with a shaft and barbed point used for catching fish
    spike
    a long, thin sharp-pointed implement (wood or metal)
    sports implement
    an implement used in a sport
    stick
    an implement consisting of a length of wood
    stick
    a long thin implement resembling a length of wood
    stirrer
    an implement used for stirring
    strickle
    a tool or rod used to level off grain or other granular material that is heaped in a measure
    swab
    implement consisting of a small piece of cotton that is used to apply medication or cleanse a wound or obtain a specimen of a secretion
    flyswat, flyswatter, swatter
    an implement with a flat part (of mesh or plastic) and a long handle; used to kill insects
    tool
    an implement used in the practice of a vocation
    tuning fork
    a metal implement with two prongs that gives a fixed tone when struck; used to tune musical instruments
    utensil
    an implement for practical use (especially in a household)
    writing implement
    an implement that is used to write
    abradant, abrader
    a tool or machine used for wearing down or smoothing or polishing
    baton, wand
    a thin tapered rod used by a conductor to lead an orchestra or choir
    baton
    a hollow cylinder passed from runner to runner in a relay race
    baton
    a hollow metal rod that is wielded or twirled by a drum major or drum majorette
    belaying pin
    a wood or metal bar to which a rope can be secured (as on a ship or in mountain climbing)
    bender
    a tool for bending
    blackboard eraser
    an eraser that removes chalk marks from blackboard
    boat hook
    pole-handled hook used to pull or push boats
    bolt, deadbolt
    the part of a lock that is engaged or withdrawn with a key
    bolt
    a sliding bar in a breech-loading firearm that ejects an empty cartridge and replaces it and closes the breech
    bottlebrush
    a cylindrical brush on a thin shaft that is used to clean bottles
    bow
    a slightly curved piece of resilient wood with taut horsehair strands; used in playing certain stringed instruments
    bristle brush
    a brush that is made with the short stiff hairs of an animal or plant
    broom
    a cleaning implement for sweeping; bundle of straws or twigs attached to a long handle
    buttonhook
    a hook for pulling a button through a buttonhole
    carpenter's level
    a straight bar of light metal with a spirit level in it
    carpet beater, rug beater
    implement for beating dust out of carpets
    carpet sweeper, sweeper
    a cleaning implement with revolving brushes that pick up dirt as the implement is pushed over a carpet
    ceramic ware
    utensils made from ceramic material
    chalk
    a piece of calcite or a similar substance, usually in the shape of a crayon, that is used to write or draw on blackboards or other flat surfaces
    charcoal, fusain
    a stick of black carbon material used for drawing
    chinning bar
    a horizontal bar on which you can chin yourself
    cleaning pad
    a pad used as a cleaning implement
    clincher
    a tool used to clinch nails or bolts or rivets
    clothesbrush
    a brush used for cleaning clothing
    club
    stout stick that is larger at one end
    comb
    any of several tools for straightening fibers
    connecting rod
    a rod that transmits motion (especially one that connects a rotating wheel to a reciprocating shaft)
    control rod
    a steel or aluminum rod that can be moved up or down to control the rate of the nuclear reaction
    copperware
    utensils made with copper
    core
    a bar of magnetic material (as soft iron) that passes through a coil and serves to increase the inductance of the coil
    crayon, wax crayon
    writing implement consisting of a colored stick of composition wax used for writing and drawing
    crochet hook, crochet needle
    a needle with a hook on the end; used in crocheting
    crossbar
    a horizontal bar that goes across something
    crotchet
    a small tool or hooklike implement
    cue, cue stick, pool cue, pool stick
    sports implement consisting of a tapering rod used to strike a cue ball in pool or billiards
    cup hook
    hook (usually on the underside of a shelf) for hanging cups
    cutting implement
    a tool used for cutting or slicing
    cyclostyle
    a writing implement with a small toothed wheel that cuts small holes in a stencil
    divining rod, dowser, dowsing rod, water finder, waterfinder
    forked stick that is said to dip down to indicate underground water or oil
    drawbar
    a strong metal bar bearing a hook to attach something to be pulled
    drill
    a tool with a sharp point and cutting edges for making holes in hard materials (usually rotating rapidly or by repeated blows)
    drumstick
    a stick used for playing a drum
    dry point
    a steel needle for engraving without acid on a bare copper plate
    eggbeater, eggwhisk
    a mixer for beating eggs or whipping cream
    eolith
    a crude stone artifact (as a chipped flint); possibly the earliest tools
    coal tongs, fire tongs
    tongs for taking hold of burning coals
    fishhook
    a sharp barbed hook for catching fish
    fishing pole, fishing rod
    a rod of wood or steel or fiberglass that is used in fishing to extend the fishing line
    fork
    an agricultural tool used for lifting or digging; has a handle and metal prongs
    fret
    a small bar of metal across the fingerboard of a musical instrument; when the string is stopped by a finger at the metal bar it will produce a note of the desired pitch
    funnel
    a conically shaped utensil having a narrow tube at the small end; used to channel the flow of substances into a container with a small mouth
    gaff
    an iron hook with a handle; used for landing large fish
    gang
    tool consisting of a combination of implements arranged to work together
    garden tool, lawn tool
    used for working in gardens or yards
    gig
    a cluster of hooks (without barbs) that is drawn through a school of fish to hook their bodies; used when fish are not biting
    grab bar
    a bar attached parallel to a wall to provide a handgrip for steadying yourself
    grapnel, grapple, grappler, grappling hook, grappling iron
    a tool consisting of several hooks for grasping and holding; often thrown with a rope
    grindstone
    a revolving stone shaped like a disk; used to grind or sharpen or polish edge tools
    hack
    a tool (as a hoe or pick or mattock) used for breaking up the surface of the soil
    hairbrush
    a brush used to groom a person's hair
    handlebar
    the shaped bar used to steer a bicycle
    handspike
    a metal bar (or length of pipe) used as a lever
    hand tool
    a tool used with workers' hands
    harpoon
    a spear with a shaft and barbed point for throwing; used for catching large fish or whales; a strong line is attached to it
    heaver
    a bar used as a lever (as in twisting rope)
    hoe
    a tool with a flat blade attached at right angles to a long handle
    hypodermic needle
    a hollow needle
    ink eraser
    an eraser that removes ink marks
    jack
    tool for exerting pressure or lifting
    Jaws of Life
    hydraulic tool inserted into a wrecked vehicle and used to pry the wreckage apart in order to provide access to people trapped inside
    kickstand
    a swiveling metal rod attached to a bicycle or motorcycle or other two-wheeled vehicle; the rod lies horizontally when not in use but can be kicked into a vertical position as a support to hold the vehicle upright when it is not being ridden
    kitchen utensil
    a utensil used in preparing food
    knitting needle
    needle consisting of a slender rod with pointed ends; usually used in pairs
    lash, thong
    leather strip that forms the flexible part of a whip
    leister
    a spear with three or more prongs; used for spearing fish (especially salmon)
    lever
    a rigid bar pivoted about a fulcrum
    linstock
    a stick about a meter long with a point on one end (to stick in the ground) and a forked head on the other end (to hold a lighted match); formerly used to fire cannons
    mallet
    a sports implement with a long handle and a head like a hammer; used in sports (polo or croquet) to hit a ball
    marker
    a writing implement for making a mark
    matchstick
    a short thin stick of wood used in making matches
    mahlstick, maulstick
    a long stick that a painter uses to support the hand holding the brush
    meat hook
    a strong pointed hook from which the carcasses of animals are hung
    nailbrush
    a brush used to clean a person's fingernails
    neolith
    a stone tool from the Neolithic Age
    packing needle
    a large needle used to sew up canvas packages
    boat paddle, paddle
    a short light oar used without an oarlock to propel a canoe or small boat
    paintbrush
    a brush used as an applicator (to apply paint)
    paleolith
    a stone tool from the Paleolithic age
    pen
    a writing implement with a point from which ink flows
    pencil
    a thin cylindrical pointed writing implement; a rod of marking substance encased in wood
    pencil sharpener
    a rotary implement for sharpening the point on pencils
    muller, pestle, pounder
    a heavy tool of stone or iron (usually with a flat base and a handle) that is used to grind and mix material (as grain or drugs or pigments) against a slab of stone
    pipe cleaner
    cleaning implement consisting of a flexible tufted wire that is used to clean a pipe stem
    plough, plow
    a farm tool having one or more heavy blades to break the soil and cut a furrow prior to sowing
    fire hook, poker, salamander, stove poker
    fire iron consisting of a metal rod with a handle; used to stir a fire
    pole
    a long (usually round) rod of wood or metal or plastic
    pole
    a long fiberglass sports implement used for pole vaulting
    power tool
    a tool driven by a motor
    pull-through
    cleaning implement consisting of an oily rag attached by a cord to a weight; is pulled through the barrel of a rifle or handgun to clean it
    punch, puncher
    a tool for making holes or indentations
    racket, racquet
    a sports implement (usually consisting of a handle and an oval frame with a tightly interlaced network of strings) used to strike a ball (or shuttlecock) in various games
    rail
    a horizontal bar (usually of wood or metal)
    rake
    a long-handled tool with a row of teeth at its head; used to move leaves or loosen soil
    ram
    a tool for driving or forcing something by impact
    ramrod
    a rod used to ram the charge into a muzzle-loading firearm
    ramrod
    a rod used to clean the barrel of a firearm
    rotating shaft, shaft
    a revolving rod that transmits power or motion
    rotor
    the revolving bar of a distributor
    rounder
    a tool for rounding corners or edges
    pencil eraser, rubber, rubber eraser
    an eraser made of rubber (or of a synthetic material with properties similar to rubber); commonly mounted at one end of a pencil
    sable, sable brush, sable's hair pencil
    an artist's brush made of sable hairs
    saw set
    a tool used to bend each alternate sawtooth at a slight angle outward
    scrub brush, scrubber, scrubbing brush
    a brush with short stiff bristles for heavy cleaning
    scull
    each of a pair of short oars that are used by a single oarsman
    scull
    a long oar that is mounted at the stern of a boat and moved left and right to propel the boat forward
    server
    utensil used in serving food or drink
    sewing needle
    a needle used in sewing to pull thread through cloth
    shackle
    a U-shaped bar; the open end can be passed through chain links and closed with a bar
    shaft
    a long rod or pole (especially the handle of an implement or the body of a weapon like a spear or arrow)
    shaping tool
    a tool for shaping metal
    shaving brush
    a brush used to apply lather prior to shaving
    shovel
    a fire iron consisting of a small shovel used to scoop coals or ashes in a fireplace
    backsword, fencing stick, singlestick
    a stick used instead of a sword for fencing
    sketcher
    an implement for sketching
    skyhook
    a hook that is imagined to be suspended from the sky
    slice bar
    iron bar used to loosen and rake clinkers out of furnaces
    spindle
    a stick or pin used to twist the yarn in spinning
    squeegee
    T-shaped cleaning implement with a rubber edge across the top; drawn across a surface to remove water (as in washing windows)
    anti-sway bar, stabilizer bar
    a rigid metal bar between the front suspensions and between the rear suspensions of cars and trucks; serves to stabilize the chassis
    staff
    a strong rod or stick with a specialized utilitarian purpose
    stair-rod
    a rod that holds a stair-carpet in the angle between two steps
    steel
    knife sharpener consisting of a ridged steel rod
    stob
    a short straight stick of wood
    strap
    an elongated leather strip (or a strip of similar material) for binding things together or holding something in position
    strickle
    a tool used in a foundry to shape a mold in sand
    strickle
    an implement for sharpening scythes
    strop
    a leather strap used to sharpen razors
    style, stylus
    a pointed tool for writing, drawing, or engraving
    mop, swab, swob
    cleaning implement consisting of absorbent material fastened to a handle; for cleaning floors
    sweep, sweep oar
    a long oar used in an open boat
    swizzle stick
    a small stick used to stir mixed drinks
    tamp, tamper, tamping bar
    a tool for tamping (e.g., for tamping tobacco into a pipe bowl or a charge into a drill hole etc.)
    tap
    a tool for cutting female (internal) screw threads
    thong
    a thin strip of leather; often used to lash things together
    tie rod
    either of two rods that link the steering gear to the front wheels
    toothbrush
    small brush; has long handle; used to clean teeth
    towel bar, towel rail
    a horizontal bar a few inches from a wall for holding towels
    rail, rails, runway, track
    a bar or pair of parallel bars of rolled steel making the railway along which railroad cars or other vehicles can roll
    swage, upset
    a tool used to thicken or spread metal (the end of a bar or a rivet etc.) by forging or hammering or swaging
    walking stick
    a stick carried in the hand for support in walking
    wand
    a rod used by a magician or water diviner
    pastel
    a stick made of powdered pigment mixed with a water-soluble or oil-based binder and used for drawing
    type of:
    instrumentality, instrumentation
    an artifact (or system of artifacts) that is instrumental in accomplishing some end
  2. verb
    apply in a manner consistent with its purpose or design
    implement a procedure”
    see moresee less
    type of:
    apply, employ, use, utilise, utilize
    put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose
  3. verb
    pursue to a conclusion or bring to a successful issue
    “He implemented a new economic plan”
    see moresee less
    types:
    adhere
    follow through or carry out a plan without deviation
    type of:
    complete, finish
    come or bring to a finish or an end
  4. verb
    ensure observance of laws and rules
    synonyms: apply, enforce
    see moresee less
    types:
    execute, run
    carry out a process or program, as on a computer or a machine
    execute
    carry out the legalities of
    step
    cause (a computer) to execute a single command
    give
    execute and deliver
    type of:
    compel, obligate, oblige
    force somebody to do something
Pronunciation
US
/ˈɪmplɪmɪnt/
UK
/ˈɪmpləmənt/
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