percussion

[ per-kuhsh-uhn ]

/ pərˈkʌʃ ən /

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See synonyms for percussion on Thesaurus.com

noun

the striking of one body against another with some sharpness; impact; blow.

Medicine/Medical. the striking or tapping of the surface of a part of the body for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.

the striking of a musical instrument to produce tones.

Music.

the section of an orchestra or band comprising the percussion instruments.
the percussion instruments themselves.

a sharp blow for detonating a percussion cap or the fuze of an artillery shell.

the striking of sound on the ear.

the act of percussing.

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Origin of percussion

1535–45; <Latin percussiōn- (stem of percussiō) a beating. See percuss, -ion

OTHER WORDS FROM percussion

per·cus·sion·al, adjective

Words nearby percussion

per continuum, per contra, per curiam, percurrent, percuss, percussion, percussion cap, percussion flaking, percussion instrument, percussionist, percussion lock

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use percussion in a sentence

A slow, dynamic swell, Sara Bareilles’ “City” is one of those tracks where, as the percussion amplifies and the range expands, I find myself involuntarily swept up in it.
JBL Live Free NC+ TWS earbuds review: Made for active listening|Tony Ware|August 24, 2021|Popular-Science
However, some use percussion to press into hard knots to relax the muscle.
Best back massager: Target your sore spots and release that tension for sweet relief|Irena Collaku|August 12, 2021|Popular-Science
It features 6 speeds for maximum treatment options, and the built-in percussions are scientifically formulated to optimize the effectiveness of pain relief, enhanced performance, and accelerated muscle recovery.
Reduce muscle strain and pain with these massage guns on sale|Quinn Gawronski|July 25, 2021|Popular-Science
The massage felt a bit superficial—more vibration than percussion.
These Are Our Favorite Massage Guns|Christine Yu|June 2, 2021|Outside Online

While we’re pushing forward, they’re shooting us with percussion grenades.
Inside the Capitol Riot: What the Parler Videos Reveal|by Alec MacGillis|January 17, 2021|ProPublica
Still others, especially the percussion instruments, are struck by hammers that move when the air pressure changes.
How to Save Silent Movies: Inside New Jersey’s Cinema Paradiso|Rich Goldstein|October 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It runs as a polyphonic symphony compared to the simple percussion section of the heart or the synchronized cellos of the liver.
We're Talking About Depression All Wrong|Jean Kim|August 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The percussion rolls like thunder, the woodwinds climax, the camera swoops upward, and we see the brass plaque: The Olive Garden.
Frank Underwood Will Not Tolerate Insubordination in This Olive Garden|Kelly Williams Brown|February 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I brought down 100 music recorders and various percussion instruments.
College Can Wait…And Wait|Kathleen Kingsbury|April 30, 2009|DAILY BEAST
A machine for making percussion caps was patented by John Abraham in 1864.
Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham|Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell
The carbon dioxid evolved distends the stomach, and its outline can easily be determined by percussion.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
In these instruments fully one-third of the speaking stops rely on percussion for production of their tones.
The Recent Revolution in Organ Building|George Laing Miller
The Indians have only old percussion-cap rifles, and not too many of them.
Warrior Gap|Charles King
And finally, an ironmonger will sell you anything but a bath, while he thrives on a lively trade in percussion-caps and gunpowder.
The Isle of Unrest|Henry Seton Merriman

British Dictionary definitions for percussion

percussion

/ (pəˈkʌʃən) /

noun

the act, an instance, or an effect of percussing

music the family of instruments in which sound arises from the striking of materials with sticks, hammers, or the hands

music

instruments of this family constituting a section of an orchestra, band, etc
(as modifier)a percussion ensemble

med the act of percussing a body surface

the act of exploding a percussion cap

Word Origin for percussion

C16: from Latin percussiō, from percutere to hit; see percuss

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 percussion

percussion

[ pər-kŭsh′ən ]

A method of medical diagnosis in which various areas of the body, especially the chest, back, and abdomen, are tapped with the finger or a plexor to determine by resonance the condition of internal organs.

Cultural definitions for percussion

percussion

A family of musical instruments played by striking their surfaces. Percussion instruments are used to accentuate and dramatize certain notes or rhythms and include instruments such as cymbals, drums, triangles, and xylophones. (See kettledrum, snare drum, and orchestra.)

percussion

Origin of percussion

OTHER WORDS FROM percussion

Words nearby percussion

Words related to percussion

How to use percussion in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for percussion

Word Origin for percussion

Medical definitions for percussion

Cultural definitions for percussion