drum

[ druhm ]

/ drʌm /

noun, plural drums, (especially collectively for 11) drum.

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.

any hollow tree or similar object or device used in this way.

the sound produced by such an instrument, object, or device.

any rumbling or deep booming sound.

a natural organ by which an animal produces a loud or bass sound.

eardrum.

any cylindrical object with flat ends.

a cylindrical part of a machine.

a cylindrical box or receptacle, especially a large, metal one for storing or transporting liquids.

Also called tambour. Architecture.

any of several cylindrical or nearly cylindrical stones laid one above the other to form a column or pier.
a cylindrical or faceted construction supporting a dome.

any of several marine and freshwater fishes of the family Sciaenidae that produce a drumming sound.

Also called drum memory. Computers. magnetic drum.

Archaic. an assembly of fashionable people at a private house in the evening.

a person who plays the drum.

Australian Informal. reliable, confidential, or profitable information: to give someone the drum.

verb (used without object), drummed, drum·ming.

to beat or play a drum.

to beat on anything rhythmically, especially to tap one's fingers rhythmically on a hard surface.

to make a sound like that of a drum; resound.

(of ruffed grouse and other birds) to produce a sound resembling drumming.

verb (used with object), drummed, drum·ming.

to beat (a drum) rhythmically; perform by beating a drum: to drum a rhythm for dancers.

to call or summon by, or as if by, beating a drum.

to drive or force by persistent repetition: to drum an idea into someone.

to fill a drum with; store in a drum: to drum contaminated water and dispose of it.

Verb Phrases

drum out,

(formerly) to expel or dismiss from a military service in disgrace to the beat of a drum.
to dismiss in disgrace: He was drummed out of the university for his gambling activities.

drum up,

to call or summon by, or as if by, beating a drum.
to obtain or create (customers, trade, interest, etc.) through vigorous effort: They were unable to drum up enthusiasm for the new policies.
to concoct; devise: to drum up new methods of dealing with urban crime.

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?

Question 1 of 10

decorum

the act of or need for making up one's mind.

dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.

a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms for drum

beat the drum, to promote, publicize, or advertise: The boss is out beating the drum for a new product.

Origin of drum

1535–45; back formation from drumslade drum, drummer, alteration of Dutch or Low German trommelslag drumbeat, equivalent to trommel drum + slag beat (akin to slagen to beat; cognate with slay)

OTHER WORDS FROM drum

un·der·drum·ming, noun

Words nearby drum

druid, druid stone, druidess, druidism, druidology, drum, drum and bugle corps, drum brake, drum corps, drum into someone's head, drum kit

Definition for drum (2 of 2)

drum²

[ druhm ]

/ drʌm /

noun Scot., Irish English.

a long, narrow hill or ridge.

Origin of drum

1715–25; < Irish and Scots Gaelic druim

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for drum

Even his signature instrument, Auto-Tune, has become as accepted an ingredient in hip-hop as the drum machine.
Future Makes Us Rethink Everything We Thought We Knew About Rap Artists|Luke Hopping|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They marched through the streets of downtown New York to the synchronized beats of the Continental drum corps that followed.
New York’s Century-Old Time Capsule Is a Dud|Justin Jones|October 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He ran like he was barreling down the stairs and he struggled to climb the 15-foot-tall drum riser.
I'm Not Country or Pop. I'm Just Pure Garth Brooks.|David Masciotra|September 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She was distraught and sad walking through a park on Long Island when she joined a drum circle on a whim.
Drums Aren’t Just for Music: They’re Therapy, Too|Dale Eisinger|July 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST

At the turn of the century, zoos displaying so-called primitive cultures were used to drum up public support for colonialism.
Norway’s Controversial Human Zoo Is Back|Nina Strochlic|May 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The irruption of this motley crew with beat of drum, according to ancient custom, was the consummation of uproar and merriment.
The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.|Washington Irving
In operation, a coating of coffee liquor is applied automatically, by means of a special device, to the outside of the drum.
All About Coffee|William H. Ukers
He beats his drum and sings, while a woman within repeats the chant in a shrill voice.
Omens and Superstitions of Southern India|Edgar Thurston
This created enigmas which exercised the imaginations of the big girls, such as: Ah, how delightful is the drum!
Les Misrables|Victor Hugo
The drum stick of a roast chicken or turkey is greatly improved by removing the tendons.
Public School Domestic Science|Mrs. J. Hoodless

British Dictionary definitions for drum (1 of 2)

drum¹

/ (drʌm) /

noun

music a percussion instrument sounded by striking a membrane stretched across the opening of a hollow cylinder or hemisphere

beat the drum for informal to attempt to arouse interest in

the sound produced by a drum or any similar sound

an object that resembles a drum in shape, such as a large spool or a cylindrical container

architect

one of a number of cylindrical blocks of stone used to construct the shaft of a column
the wall or structure supporting a dome or cupola

short for eardrum

Also called: drumfish any of various North American marine and freshwater sciaenid fishes, such as Equetus pulcher (striped drum), that utter a drumming sound

a type of hollow rotor for steam turbines or axial compressors

computing a rotating cylindrical device on which data may be stored for later retrieval: now mostly superseded by disksSee disk (def. 2)

archaic a drummer

the drum Australian informal the necessary information (esp in the phrase give (someone) the drum)

verb drums, drumming or drummed

to play (music) on or as if on a drum

to beat or tap (the fingers) rhythmically or regularly

(intr) (of birds) to produce a rhythmic sound, as by beating the bill against a tree, branch, etc

(tr sometimes foll by up) to summon or call by drumming

(tr) to instil by constant repetitionto drum an idea into someone's head

Word Origin for drum

C16: probably from Middle Dutch tromme, of imitative origin

British Dictionary definitions for drum (2 of 2)

drum²

/ (drʌm) /

noun

Scot and Irish a narrow ridge or hill

Word Origin for drum

C18: from Scottish Gaelic druim

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for drum

drum

[ drŭm ]

n.

eardrum

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drum

noun, plural drums, (especially collectively for 11) drum.

verb (used without object), drummed, drum·ming.