drum

¹ American  

[druhm] / drʌm /

noun

• drums,
  plural
• drum
  plural

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)

• drums,
  present (3rd person singular)
• drummed,
  past participle,  past
• drumming
  present participle

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)

• drums,
  present (3rd person singular)
• drummed,
  past participle,  past
• drumming
  present participle

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

Derived Forms

• underdrumming
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• drum
  plural
• drums
  plural

Participles

• drumming
  present
• drummed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• drum
  simple
• drums
  simple
• have drummed
  perfect
• has drummed
  perfect
• am drumming
  progressive
• are drumming
  progressive
• is drumming
  progressive
• have been drumming
  perfect progressive
• has been drumming
  perfect progressive

Past

• drummed
  simple
• had drummed
  perfect
• was drumming
  progressive
• were drumming
  progressive
• had been drumming
  perfect progressive

Future

• will drum
  simple
• will have drummed
  perfect
• will be drumming
  progressive
• will have been drumming
  perfect progressive

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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

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Explanation

A drum is a musical instrument that you play by hitting it rhythmically with a stick or your hand. Most drums are round, with a thin material stretched tightly over the ends. Some drums, like the West African djembe, are played with bare hands by a drummer who plays just one drum at a time. Others are found in a drum kit, often part of a rock band or a jazz ensemble, which might include a bass drum, a snare drum, cymbals, and a tom-tom — or even more. The word drum is also a verb, meaning "to play a drum," and can also mean "a cylinder-shaped container."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

drum drums drummed drumming

Percy “PC3” Crews has been playing drums since he was 3, and his vicious skills on the drum kit contrast with a cheery, relaxed demeanor.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2026

During the “Berghain” remix, Rosalía’s dancers drop to the floor as if shot by a sniper, going down one by one with each thunderous drum hit.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 19, 2026

This week in the Don’t Short Yourself newsletter, Genna Contino described Kalshi’s attempt to drum up interest in betting on who will win “Dancing with the Stars.”

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 9, 2026

The drum of royalty, foretold two generations earlier, is now returning to its bearer.

From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026

The drum tumbled on, and the distracted flute wandered off.

From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri

It’s student-athlete core, a mish-mash of choirs, electric guitar noises over pounding drums that all sound like keyboard presets.

From Salon ● Oct. 21, 2026

In high school — Gray is a graduate of Hamilton High — he played drums in a rock band called Population Explosion.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026

He’s the pen behind 2005’s “Just the Girl” by the Click Five, which laid a mall-emo whine and reverb-heavy drums over The Wonders’ tried and true formula.

From Salon ● Oct. 4, 2026

That chosen band was the Strokes: Julian Casablancas, lead singer and songwriter; Nick Valensi and Albert Hammond Jr., guitars; Nikolai Fraiture, bass; and Fabrizio Moretti, drums.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

He drums his fingers against the table and purses his lips.

From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen

On Sphere’s escalators, grey-bearded lifers hugged in shredded battle jackets; tween girls in “Master of Puppets” hoodies drummed along to every fill; accents came from eastern Europe, Latin America and all the world over.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court she had "drummed it" into him that he must not tell anyone about them and to keep it a secret.

From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026

You can be drummed out of the group stage, or lose on penalties in the final.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026

"We drummed it up pretty good," Daigneault said.

From Barron's ● Oct. 26, 2025

He paused and drummed his fingers on the chair arm.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood

Film magazine Variety said Malkovich was "drumming up awards buzz" and tipped him for a possible first best actor Oscar at the next awards ceremony.

From Barron's ● Sep. 12, 2026

Pant hooting and buttress drumming are both part of the male chimpanzee display, suggesting that accumulative stone throwing might represent a modification of this common behavior.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 28, 2026

The father-of-four is constantly ferrying the kids - aged between seven and 13 - to endless activities including taekwondo, swimming and drumming, as well helping them figure out their homework.

From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026

At a launch party ahead of April’s Beijing auto show, Volkswagen unveiled four new EVs alongside thunderous Chinese drumming and a performance by a local dance troupe.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 2, 2026

Even at this distance, Taran could hear the clank of weapons, the steady, heavy drumming of marching feet.

From "The Book of Three" by Lloyd Alexander

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