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

SYNONYMS FOR implement

1. See tool.

Related forms

im·ple·ment·a·ble, adjectiveim·ple·men·tal, adjectiveim·ple·men·ta·tion, nounim·ple·ment·er, im·ple·men·tor, noun

non·im·ple·ment, nounnon·im·ple·men·tal, adjectivere·im·ple·ment, verb (used with object)

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.

implement

noun

verb (used with object)

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Nearby words

Origin of implement

implement

noun (ˈɪmplɪmənt)

verb (ˈɪmplɪˌmɛnt) (tr)

Word Origin for implement

implement

implement