bass drum

American  

[beys] / beɪs /

noun

• bass drums
  plural

1. the largest and lowest toned of drums, having a cylindrical body and two membrane heads.

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bass drum British  

/ beɪs /

noun

1. Also called: gran cassa.  a large shallow drum of low and indefinite pitch

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bass drum Cultural  

1. The large drum with a cylindrical shape that gives the strong beat in brass bands.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• bass drums
  plural

Etymology

Origin of bass drum

First recorded in 1795–1805

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bass drum

The following track, “Death Wish,” is about the torment of a new love gone bad, and it unfolds over plucked acoustic guitars and a distant bass drum that sounds like a heartbeat.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026

All but one song is written by Cato and on one tune alone, he’s credited with acoustic guitar, bass, drums, tambourine, seed shaker, concert bass drum, lead vocals and background vocals.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 8, 2023

The orchestral ensemble — 19 string players augmented by a five-octave marimba and a low bass drum — becomes a metaphor for the forest.

From New York Times ● Mar. 6, 2023

During his first summer as a professional actor, Bonneville played the bass drum in “Romeo and Juliet,” the cymbal in “Midsummer Night’s Dream” and an officer in Shaw’s “Arms and the Man.”

From Washington Post ● Nov. 7, 2022

She was hiding behind a bass drum in the percussion section.

From "The Battle of the Labyrinth" by Rick Riordan