English Explanatory Dictionary

drum

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A percussive musical instrument spanned with a thin covering on at least one end for striking, forming an acoustic chamber; a membranophone.
  2. Any similar hollow, cylindrical object.
  3. A barrel or large cylindrical container for liquid transport and storage.
  4. Synonym of construction barrel.
  5. The encircling wall that supports a dome or cupola.
  6. Any of the cylindrical blocks that make up the shaft of a pillar.
  7. A drumfish (family Sciaenidae).
  8. A tip; a piece of information.
  9. The ear.
verb
  1. To beat a drum.
  2. To beat with a rapid succession of strokes.
  3. To drill or review in an attempt to establish memorization.
  4. To throb, as the heart.
  5. To go about, as a drummer does, to gather recruits, to draw or secure partisans, customers, etc.; used with for.
  6. Of various animals, to make a vocalisation or mechanical sound that resembles drumming.
noun
  1. A small hill or ridge of hills.
noun
  1. A social gathering or assembly held in the evening.
  2. A person's home; a house or other building, especially when insalubrious; a tavern, a brothel.
noun
  1. A drumstick (of chicken, turkey, etc).
name
  1. A surname.
  2. A settlement (Mains of Drum) in Aberdeenshire council area, Scotland, near Drum Castle (OS grid ref NO8099).
  3. A mountain in Conwy borough county borough, Wales (OS grid ref SH7069).
  4. A village in County Monaghan, Ireland.
  5. A civil parish and townland in County Roscommon, Ireland.
  6. An unincorporated community in Bollinger County, Missouri, USA, named after the Drum family.

Pronunciation

/ˈdɹʌm/ en-us-drum.ogg EN-AU ck1 drum.ogg /ˈdɹʊm/

Word forms

drum drums drumming drummed

Etymology

Perhaps back-formation from drumslade (“drummer”), from Middle Dutch trommelslach (“drumbeat”), from trommel (“drum”) + slach (“beat”) (Dutch slag). Or perhaps borrowed directly from a continental Germanic language; compare Middle Dutch tromme (“drum”), Middle Low German trumme (“drum”) et al. Compare also Middle High German trumme, trumbe (“drum”), Old High German trumba (“trumpet”).

Synonyms

skins construction barrel

Related words

percussion

Derived words

bang on the drum bang the drum bang the drum for barrel drum bass drum beat like a jungle drum beat the drum beat the drum for bedrum big drum black drum bongo drum brake drum cable drum caveman drums chalice drum cocktail drum concert bass drum conga drum conical drum construction drum double-conical drum double conical drum drum and bass drumbeat drumbeater drumbeating drum belly drum brake drum cadence drum-dried drumette drum fill drumfire drumfish drumful drumfunk drumhead drum head drum-head court drum horse drum kit drumless drumlike drumline drum machine drum magazine drum major drum majorette drummie drummist drummy drum 'n' bass drumology drum roll drum set drumskin drumstep drumstick drum stick
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