drum

¹ American  

[druhm] / drʌm /

noun

plural

drums, drum

1. a musical percussion instrument consisting of a hollow, usually cylindrical, body covered at one or both ends with a tightly stretched membrane, or head, which is struck with the hand, a stick, or a pair of sticks, and typically produces a booming, tapping, or hollow sound.

2. any hollow tree or similar object or device used in this way.

3. the sound produced by such an instrument, object, or device.

4. any rumbling or deep booming sound.

5. a natural organ by which an animal produces a loud or bass sound.

6. eardrum.

7. any cylindrical object with flat ends.

8. a cylindrical part of a machine.

9. a cylindrical box or receptacle, especially a large, metal one for storing or transporting liquids.

10. Also called tambour.  Architecture.

    1. any of several cylindrical or nearly cylindrical stones laid one above the other to form a column or pier.

    2. a cylindrical or faceted construction supporting a dome.

11. Ichthyology. any of several marine and freshwater fishes of the family Sciaenidae that produce a drumming sound.

12. Also called drum memory.  Computers. magnetic drum.

13. Archaic. an assembly of fashionable people at a private house in the evening.

14. a person who plays the drum.

15. Australian Informal. reliable, confidential, or profitable information.

    to give someone the drum.

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verb (used without object)

drummed, drumming

1. to beat or play a drum.

2. to beat on anything rhythmically, especially to tap one's fingers rhythmically on a hard surface.

3. to make a sound like that of a drum; resound.

4. (of ruffed grouse and other birds) to produce a sound resembling drumming.

verb (used with object)

drummed, drumming

1. to beat (a drum) rhythmically; perform by beating a drum.

   to drum a rhythm for dancers.

2. to call or summon by, or as if by, beating a drum.

3. to drive or force by persistent repetition.

   to drum an idea into someone.

4. to fill a drum with; store in a drum.

   to drum contaminated water and dispose of it.

verb phrase

1. drum up

   1. to call or summon by, or as if by, beating a drum.

   2. to obtain or create (customers, trade, interest, etc.) through vigorous effort.

      They were unable to drum up enthusiasm for the new policies.

   3. to concoct; devise.

      to drum up new methods of dealing with urban crime.

2. drum out

   1. (formerly) to expel or dismiss from a military service in disgrace to the beat of a drum.

   2. to dismiss in disgrace.

      He was drummed out of the university for his gambling activities.

idioms

1. beat the drum, to promote, publicize, or advertise.

   The boss is out beating the drum for a new product.

drum ² American  

[druhm] / drʌm /

noun

Scot., Irish English.

1. a long, narrow hill or ridge.

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drum ¹ British  

/ drʌm /

noun

1. music a percussion instrument sounded by striking a membrane stretched across the opening of a hollow cylinder or hemisphere

2. informal to attempt to arouse interest in

3. the sound produced by a drum or any similar sound

4. an object that resembles a drum in shape, such as a large spool or a cylindrical container

5. architect

   1. one of a number of cylindrical blocks of stone used to construct the shaft of a column

   2. the wall or structure supporting a dome or cupola

6. short for eardrum

7. Also called: drumfish.  any of various North American marine and freshwater sciaenid fishes, such as Equetus pulcher ( striped drum ), that utter a drumming sound

8. a type of hollow rotor for steam turbines or axial compressors

9. computing a rotating cylindrical device on which data may be stored for later retrieval: now mostly superseded by disks See disk

10. archaic a drummer

11. informal the necessary information (esp in the phrase give ( someone ) the drum )

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verb

1. to play (music) on or as if on a drum

2. to beat or tap (the fingers) rhythmically or regularly

3. (intr) (of birds) to produce a rhythmic sound, as by beating the bill against a tree, branch, etc

4. to summon or call by drumming

5. (tr) to instil by constant repetition

   to drum an idea into someone's head

drum ² British  

/ drʌm /

noun

1. a narrow ridge or hill

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Other Word Forms

• underdrumming noun

Etymology

Origin of drum¹

First recorded in 1535–45; of uncertain origin; probably a back formation from drumslade “drum, drummer,” alteration of Dutch or Low German trommelslag “drumbeat,” equivalent to trommel “drum” + slag “a beat”; cognate with slay

Origin of drum²

First recorded in 1725–35; from Irish and Scots Gaelic druim, of unknown origin

Example Sentences

And Southwest tried to drum up new bookings with this app pop-up: “With TSA wait times returning to normal, go ahead and book that trip you’ve been planning.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

They are also the first large CalMac ships fitted with Voith Schneider propulsor units - spinning blades that hang vertically from a drum - rather than traditional screw propellers.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

Members of the Republican Guard carried the casket draped in a French flag into the courtyard to the beat of a drum before Macron read a eulogy, saying Jospin fought for justice and freedom.

From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026

"Specifically, we want to test incongruent pairings -- for example, what happens if you hear a drum but see a bird?" said Huang.

From Science Daily • Mar. 20, 2026

And a boy who looks about my age is playing the smaller drum.

From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar

Related Words

• strum