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.
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
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).
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.