noun
- 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.
- a set of drums and cymbals played by one person in a jazz, rock, or dance band
- the sound produced by beating a drum, or any sound like this
- any of various drumlike cylindrical objects; specif.,
- a metal spool or cylinder around which cable, etc. is wound in a machine
- a barrel-like metal container for oil, etc.
- any of the cylindrical blocks making up the shaft of a stone column
- the circular or polygonal wall supporting a dome
- ☆ any of a family (Sciaenidae) of marine and freshwater percoid fishes that make a drumming sound
- Anat.
- middle ear
- tympanic membrane
Origin:
< Du trom, akin to MLowG trumme, drum, OHG trumba, of echoic orig.
intransitive verb drummed, drumming
- to beat a drum
- to beat or tap continually or rhythmically, as with the fingers
- ☆ to make a loud, reverberating sound by quivering the wings: said of the ruffed grouse, etc.