tambourine

American  

[tam-buh-reen] / ˌtæm bəˈrin /

noun

1. a small drum consisting of a circular frame with a skin stretched over it and several pairs of metal jingles attached to the frame, played by striking with the knuckles, shaking, and the like.

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tambourine British  

/ ˌtæmbəˈriːn /

noun

1. music a percussion instrument consisting of a single drumhead of skin stretched over a circular wooden frame hung with pairs of metal discs that jingle when it is struck or shaken

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Other Word Forms

• tambourinist noun

Etymology

Origin of tambourine

1570–80; earlier tamboryne < Middle Dutch tamborijn small drum < Middle French tambourin or Medieval Latin tamborīnum. See tambour, -ine ¹

Explanation

The tambourine is a portable percussion instrument that you shake or strike against your leg or palm. If you want to be in a band with your friends but you don't know how to play an instrument, you could try playing the tambourine. Tambourines are round and look like shallow drums (sometimes with an actual drumhead) with several pairs of metal disks that jingle against each other when you shake or tap the tambourine. The earliest meaning of tambourine was "small drum," from the diminutive of the French tambour, "drum."

Example Sentences

Kostelnik took his place with the band, and got paid for playing the tambourine for the hourlong set.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 13, 2025

Clocking in at just under two hours, the show began with album opener “Felt Good About You,” a folksy number whose jaunty tambourine gives it the feel of a tune from an indie film soundtrack.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 11, 2024

While Kat says he can’t buy a guitar every time he messes up, he jokes and tells her he can buy her drums, a tambourine and other band instruments.

From Salon • Apr. 8, 2024

In another classroom, steel pans, a keyboard and tambourine are laid out near some comfy beanbags, as therapist Margaret Moore takes a relaxed class for teenagers.

From BBC • Jan. 30, 2024

I shook my tambourine as we walked up the stairs to the subway, and held my breath when the train went underground.

From "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" by Jonathan Safran Foer