implement

[noun im-pluh-muh nt; verb im-pluh-ment, -muh nt]

noun

any article used in some activity, especially an instrument, tool, or utensil: agricultural implements.

an article of equipment, as household furniture, clothing, ecclesiastical vestments, or the like.

a means; agent: human beings as an implement of divine plan.

verb (used with object)

to fulfill; perform; carry out: Once in office, he failed to implement his campaign promises.

to put into effect according to or by means of a definite plan or procedure.

to fill out or supplement.

to provide with implements.

Origin of implement

1425–75; late Middle English < Late Latin implēmentum a filling up, equivalent to Latin implē(re) to fill up (im- im-¹ + plēre to fill) + -mentum -ment

Related formsim·ple·ment·a·ble, adjectiveim·ple·men·tal, adjectiveim·ple·men·ta·tion, nounim·ple·ment·er, im·ple·men·tor, nounnon·im·ple·ment, nounnon·im·ple·men·tal, adjectivere·im·ple·ment, verb (used with object)

Synonyms for implement

1. See tool.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for implementor

implement

noun (ˈɪmplɪmənt)

a piece of equipment; tool or utensilgardening implements

something used to achieve a purpose; agent

verb (ˈɪmplɪˌmɛnt) (tr)

to carry out; put into action; performto implement a plan

archaic to complete, satisfy, or fulfil

Derived Formsimplemental, adjectiveimplementation, nounimplementer or implementor, noun

Word Origin for implement

C17: from Late Latin implēmentum, literally: a filling up, from Latin implēre to fill up, satisfy, fulfil

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for implementor

implement

mid-15c., from Late Latin implementem "a filling up" (as with provisions), from Latin implere "to fill," from assimilated form of in- "into, in, on, upon" (see in- (2)) + plere "to fill" (see pleio-). Sense of "tool" is 1530s, from notion of things provided to do work, that which "fills up" or "completes" a household (c.1500).

implement

1806, originally chiefly in Scottish, where the noun was a legal term meaning "fulfillment," from implement (n.). It led to the wretched formation implementation, first recorded 1913. Related: Implemented.