snare drum

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noun

a small double-headed drum, carried at the side or placed on a stationary stand, having snares across the lower head to produce a rattling or reverberating effect.

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Also called side drum.

Origin of snare drum

First recorded in 1870–75

Words nearby snare drum

snap someone's head off, snaptin, snap to, snap up, snare, snare drum, snarf, snark, snarky, snarl, snarler

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use snare drum in a sentence

For a few seconds, the parade marched on, the roll of snare drums, the chatter of children, the footsteps of the band members lingering in the air.
At a Christmas parade, ‘Comfort and Joy’ turns to carnage and fear: ‘There were bodies all over the street’|Marc Fisher, Kim Bellware, Joanna Slater, Mark Guarino|November 23, 2021|Washington Post
It offers a utility in its aura — of tastefulness, of craftsmanship, of its knowledge of cool and unimpeachable things, including Otis Redding’s growl and the RZA’s snare drum sounds.
Album of the year is the Grammy that nobody deserves to win|Chris Richards|March 12, 2021|Washington Post
And the young man ran the thing over his tongue like a treble drag on a snare-drum.
John Ermine of the Yellowstone|Frederic Remington
Yes,” grumbled Hank, disjointedly, “but the snare-drum solo my teeth are doing may make noise enough to give me away.
The Motor Boat Club and The Wireless|H. Irving Hancock

Skeezicks, who played the big horn, accused the cornet and the snare-drum of stealing his cold lunch.
The Octopus|Frank Norris
Beagle brought into the country an old snare drum, which gave out a very crazy sound.
The Puddleford Papers,|H. H. Riley
"I mustn't look at the new moon through a knot hole and I must beware of the flute and the snare drum," said Mr. Biggs.
A Man for the Ages|Irving Bacheller

British Dictionary definitions for snare drum

snare drum

noun

music a cylindrical drum with two drumheads, the upper of which is struck and the lower fitted with a snareSee snare 2

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

Cultural definitions for snare drum

snare drum

A shallow cylindrical drum, with wires or pieces of catgut (snares) stretched across the bottom skin to give a sharp, rattling sound when the top skin is struck. Snare drums are used in orchestras and in nearly all kinds of bands.