drum Hear it!

drum¹ Definition

drum (drum)

noun

    1. a percussion instrument consisting of a hollow cylinder or hemisphere with a membrane stretched tightly over the end or ends, played by beating with the hands, sticks, etc.
    2. a set of drums and cymbals played by one person in a jazz, rock, or dance band
  2. the sound produced by beating a drum, or any sound like this
  3. any of various drumlike cylindrical objects; specif.,
    1. a metal spool or cylinder around which cable, etc. is wound in a machine
    2. a barrel-like metal container for oil, etc.
    3. any of the cylindrical blocks making up the shaft of a stone column
    4. the circular or polygonal wall supporting a dome
  4. ☆ any of a family (Sciaenidae) of marine and freshwater percoid fishes that make a drumming sound
  5. Anat.
    1. middle ear
    2. tympanic membrane

Etymology: < Du trom, akin to MLowG trumme, drum, OHG trumba, of echoic orig.

intransitive verb drummed, drum′·ming

  1. to beat a drum
  2. to beat or tap continually or rhythmically, as with the fingers
  3. ☆ to make a loud, reverberating sound by quivering the wings: said of the ruffed grouse, etc.

transitive verb

  1. to play (a tune, rhythm, etc.) on or as on a drum
  2. to beat or tap continually
  3. to assemble by beating a drum
  4. to instill (ideas, facts, etc.) into by continued repetition

drum¹ Idioms

beat the drum for

☆

Informal to seek to arouse interest in or enthusiasm for

drum out of

  1. Historical to expel from (the army) with drums beating
  2. to expel from in disgrace

drum up

  1. to summon by or as by beating a drum
  2. to get (business, etc.) by soliciting

on drums

playing drums

drum² Definition

drum (drum)

noun

  1. a narrow hill or ridge
  2. drumlin

Etymology: see drumlin

drum Synonyms

drum

n.

Types of drums include: bass, kettledrum, timpani, snare, side, native, tabor, water, bongo, steel, barrel, flower, tom-tom, tabla, tambour, tambourine; boiler*, thud-box*, tub*, hot skin*, traps*;

beat the drum for*

promote, publicize, support, further; see advertise 2, promote 1.

drum Usage Examples

Object

  • kit: Finding the right drum kit is simple: just use the Phrase Preview function to hear a short demo of each kit.
  • solo: Don't let anyone tell you a drum solo is a cliché without having heard one of his.
  • beat: And here it is; 46 minutes of crushing guitar riffs, shattering drum beats and enough guitar licks to clean a dozen cats.
  • brake: For stopping power there are rear drum brakes, which also allow for easy power checks and precise ground control.
  • bass: Dont know what im playing lol could be side drum bass drum cymbals or trumpet.
  • scanner: Traditionally drum scanners provided the best quality, but were expensive to use and hard to operate.

Converse of object

  • snare: Suitable for snare drums from 12 " up to 15 " .
  • bang: We marched up the center of the street, shouting, singing, banging drums, dancing and generally making our presence felt.
  • pound: Virtuoso guitar playing melds with pounding electronic drums to bring you tunes you'll be humming for weeks.

Adjective modifier

  • thumping: There's what I think are electric guitars, along with thumping drums and compelling vocals.
  • perforated: She was taken to the Royal London where she was treated for perforated ear drums and cuts and grazes.
  • tribal: The band are good, ' Wolves ' like a Tom Waits with tribal drums and howling harmonies.

Modifies a noun

  • kit: He went straight home and got his drum kit and was back inside the hour.
  • beating: There was a flag on every house, crackers going off, drums beating, singing and crying " Viva Pacheco " .

Noun used with modifier

  • bongo: Ronaldinho gets in the mood by playing bongo drums on the team bus.
  • bass: Orion and Saturn bass drums are built with an isolated bass drum spur mount.
  • gallon: He spoke of the laggers mixing asbestos in 40 gallon drums.
  • conga: Conga drums and brass were added for a much heavier sound called mambo.
  • ala: Why were those who once played the cem and ala drums spending their time in bitter lamenting?
  • snare: This drum is one of the most sensitive snare drums that Pearl offers.