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

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

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

It carried a searching air before giving way to a drum solo and then to a brief, hard-driving suggestion of an entirely new song.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

The production features a fusion of reggaeton drum patterns and syncopated kicks with the Middle Eastern darbuka, as well as violins, which softly emanate a minor microtonal scale in the background.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026

The weekend festival concludes on Sunday with a line-up including performances by drum and bass duo Chase & Status, and Florence + The Machine.

From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2026

He said that publishing online can make work more accessible to new readers, although most people publish shorter excerpts to drum up attention for a book that readers will eventually want to pay for.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

“A drum with sticks. A coach and four. An India rubber ball, and a nutcracker. Nothing remotely edible.”

From "Secrets at Sea" by Richard Peck

When he arrives, he seems fantastically grumpy, complaining about the sound-proofing panels that have been placed in front of Joey Waronker's drums.

From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026

“The heart and rhythm of the music and the drums and the spiciness,” she added, in her People interview, “it all reminds me of Creole, which is my heritage, and where I come from.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026

But what makes it familiar is that moment when the drums kick in and Dulli’s vocals are immediately in your ears, smooth yet commanding.

From Salon ● Aug. 25, 2026

In July, a cover of Madonna's "Like a Prayer" soared to the top of the charts in Australia but drew scrutiny after it was revealed to have used AI-generated vocals and drums.

From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026

A bass guitar’s slow notes intertwined with a saxophone’s glee, creating a jazz-funk, strut-like rhythm, soon joined by trumpets and drums.

From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas

He has drummed with everybody and has these other interests and businesses.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

Irene drummed into her charge the importance of manners, religion, education and comportment, which serve Vernice well as she moves into a world beyond her hometown.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 27, 2026

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

From Barron's ● Oct. 26, 2025

Builders have also amped up marketing and drummed up discounts to make newly built homes more attractive.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 24, 2025

She had a show of unconcernedness, but her fingers twitched and drummed and she licked her lips with her scarlet tongue.

From "Coraline" by Neil Gaiman

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

He’s also been a major irritant to David Ellison and other top Paramount executives as the actor took a starring role, drumming up opposition in Hollywood to Paramount’s proposed takeover of Warner Bros.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 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

"Freedom Suite," led by Rollins' confident sax and also notable for Max Roach's drumming, proved controversial enough that a reissue chose another title for the album.

From Barron's ● May 26, 2026

Other types of music, such as traditional Western African drumming, may have very complex meters that can be difficult for the beginner to identify.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones

Related Words

• strum