tambourine

[tam-buh-reen]

noun

1. a small drum consisting of a circular frame with a skin stretched over it and several pairs of metal jingles attached to the frame, played by striking with the knuckles, shaking, and the like.

tambourine

/ ˌtæmbəˈriːn /

noun

1. music a percussion instrument consisting of a single drumhead of skin stretched over a circular wooden frame hung with pairs of metal discs that jingle when it is struck or shaken

Other Word Forms

• tambourinist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tambourine¹

1570–80; earlier tamboryne < Middle Dutch tamborijn small drum < Middle French tambourin or Medieval Latin tamborīnum. See tambour, -ine ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of tambourine¹

C16: from Middle Flemish tamborijn a little drum, from Old French: _tambourin

Example Sentences

The Roses gave Nick his first recording credit too as the then 16-year-old played tambourine on their hit single Love Spreads, still their highest placing single, which reached number two in 1994.

Read more on BBC

Sporadic chants punctuated a steady stream of tambourines, car horns, applause and cheering.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Clocking in at just under two hours, the show began with album opener “Felt Good About You,” a folksy number whose jaunty tambourine gives it the feel of a tune from an indie film soundtrack.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

She provides backing vocals, plays tambourine and guitar.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A man sits between a woman’s legs as she braids his hair into cornrows, while another guest taps a tambourine to the beat of the music.

Read more on Los Angeles Times