cymbal

American  

[sim-buhl] / ˈsɪm bəl /

noun

1. a concave plate of brass or bronze that produces a sharp, ringing sound when struck: played either in pairs, by being struck together, or singly, by being struck with a drumstick or the like.

---

cymbal British  

/ ˈsɪmbəl /

noun

1. a percussion instrument of indefinite pitch consisting of a thin circular piece of brass, which vibrates when clashed together with another cymbal or struck with a stick

---

cymbal Cultural  

1. A large, round metal plate used as a percussion instrument. Cymbals can be crashed together in pairs or struck singly with a drumstick, and they are used in dance bands, jazz bands, and orchestras.

---

Other Word Forms

• cymbal-like adjective
• cymbaleer noun
• cymbaler noun
• cymbalist noun
• cymballike adjective

Etymology

Origin of cymbal

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English cymbal, cymbala, from Old French cymbale, cymble , and from Medieval Latin cymbalum, from Latin, from Greek kýmbalon, derivative of kýmbos, kýmbē “hollow vessel, cup”

Example Sentences

Then it happened — somewhere between a cymbal crash and a guitar wail.

From Los Angeles Times

His press rolls and cymbal crashes urge on Mr. Harrison’s expanding circles of improvisation.

From The Wall Street Journal

Its beat is a mix of drum machines, sequenced electronics and an acoustic kit, as tricky cymbal flourishes and field recordings of wordless voices echo somewhere in the background.

From The Wall Street Journal

The soldier wears a fur pelisse and holds a cymbal, which meant he was very likely to have belonged to a cavalry regiment, Ms Lavelle said.

From BBC

On Wednesday afternoon, it was a pleasant 77 degrees, with drums, flutes and cymbals being heard around the Manhattan Beach campus as band members practiced.

From Los Angeles Times