This paper presents techniques for specifying microprocessor instruction set syntax and semantics in the HOL theorem proving system. The paper describes the use of abstract representations for operators and data, gives techniques for specifying instruction set syntax, outlines the use of records in specifying semantic domains, presents the creation of parameterized semantic frameworks, and shows how all of these can be used to create a semantics for a microprocessor instruction set. The verified microprocessor Uinta provides examples for each of these.