Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A tool, utensil, or other piece of equipment used in doing work.
  • noun An article used to outfit or equip someone.
  • noun A means of achieving an end; an instrument or agent.
  • transitive verb To put into practical effect; carry out.
  • transitive verb To supply with implements.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To fulfil or satisfy the conditions of; accomplish.
  • To fulfil or perform; carry into effect or execution: as, to implement a contract or decree.
  • To provide, supply, or fit with implements or instrumental means.
  • noun The act of fulfilling or performing: as, in implement of a contract.
  • noun Whatever may supply a want; especially, an instrument, tool, or utensil; an instrumental appliance or means: as, the implements of trade or of husbandry.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun That which fulfills or supplies a want or use; esp., an instrument, tool, or utensil, as supplying a requisite to an end.
  • transitive verb rare To accomplish; to fulfill.
  • transitive verb To provide with an implement or implements; to cause to be fulfilled, satisfied, or carried out, by means of an implement or implements.
  • transitive verb (Scots Law) To fulfill or perform, as a contract or an engagement.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A tool or instrument for working with.
  • verb to bring about; to put into practice
  • verb to carry out; to do

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb ensure observance of laws and rules
  • verb apply in a manner consistent with its purpose or design
  • verb pursue to a conclusion or bring to a successful issue
  • noun instrumentation (a piece of equipment or tool) used to effect an end

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English, supplementary payment, from Old French emplement, act of filling, from Late Latin implēmentum, from Latin implēre, to fill up : in-, intensive pref.; see in– + plēre, to fill; see pelə- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Late Latin implēmentum ("a filling up"), from Latin impleō ("I fill up").

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Scottish English or Scots implement ("fulfill")

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Examples

  • Some of the best scenes in my books are the ones I never planned, never even knew existed until I was neck deep in an unsolvable problem and then, there, rising from the murky depths of the subconscious, was the perfect, shining solution, and all it would take to implement is going back and rewriting three chapters at the beginning … again.

    my stones have a 2 bird minimum « 2009

  • A modified version of this “easy to use and easy to carry” defense implement is the Red-Pepper spray that gives you that extra bite we earlier referred to as a “sabre-tooth” sting!

    SciFi, Fantasy & Horror Collectibles - Part 1162 2009

  • Some of the best scenes in my books are the ones I never planned, never even knew existed until I was neck deep in an unsolvable problem and then, there, rising from the murky depths of the subconscious, was the perfect, shining solution, and all it would take to implement is going back and rewriting three chapters at the beginning … again.

    2009 August « 2009

  • Here, the unremarkable man paused; he lifted some ancient implement from a pile of rusted bric-a-brac.

    Chasing Jerohim « A Fly in Amber 2008

  • I think the most important safeguard we can implement is to treat everyone who joins or comments here with respect.

    Remnant update « Love | Peace | Ohana 2007

  • So working on what makes programs short rather than what's hard to implement translates to:

    Take the Arc Challenge 2008

  • They†™ ve been bickering over the Prime Minister†™ s position for so long now, I†™ m almost wishing Bremer were here to once again implement his whole “Puppet per month” arrangement as in 2003.

    Think Progress » Wrong Again About Iraq: Invasion Has Not Sparked Larger ‘Democratic Revolution’ in the Middle East 2006

  • However the last critical step of translating from the particular to application, or how to implement, is not emphasized.

    Comparison of Mexican and Canada/US Education 2004

  • However the last critical step of translating from the particular to application, or how to implement, is not emphasized.

    Comparison of Mexican and Canada/US Education 2004

  • The problem devising a suitable implement is given to the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Tennessee.

    The Tennessee Valley Authority 1939

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