Illustration of drum
- 1 bass
- 2 snare (orchestra)
- 3 snare (parade)
drum
1 of 3noun (1)
ˈdrəm 
1
: a percussion instrument consisting of a hollow shell or cylinder with a drumhead stretched over one or both ends that is beaten with the hands or with some implement (such as a stick or wire brush)
2
: tympanic membrane
3
: the sound of a drum
also : a sound similar to that of a drum
4
: any of various chiefly marine bony fishes (family Sciaenidae) that make a drumming or croaking noise using their air bladder and associated muscles
5
: something resembling a drum in shape: such as
a(1)
: any of the cylindrical blocks that form the shaft of a column
(2)
: a round wall or structure that supports a dome
b
: a cylindrical machine or mechanical device or part
c
: a cylindrical container
specifically : a large usually metal container for liquids
a 55-gallon drum
d
: a disk-shaped magazine for an automatic weapon
drumlike
ˈdrəm-ˌlīk
adjective drum
2 of 3verb
drummed; drumming
intransitive verb
1
: to make a succession of strokes or vibrations that produce sounds like drumbeats
2
: to beat a drum
3
: to throb or sound rhythmically
4
: to stir up interest : solicit
transitive verb
1
: to summon or enlist by or as if by beating a drum
were drummed into service
2
: to dismiss ignominiously : expel —usually used with out
3
: to drive or force by steady effort or reiteration
drummed the speech into her head
4
a
: to strike or tap repeatedly
b
: to produce (rhythmic sounds) by such action
drum
3 of 3noun (2)
1
chiefly Scotland : a long narrow hill or ridge
2
: drumlin
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- barrel
- can
- canister
- cannister
- tin
Verb
- beat
- rap
- tap
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb She drummed while he played the guitar. Her fingers drummed nervously on the table. He was nervously drumming a pencil on the desk.
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
probably from Dutch trom; akin to Middle High German trumme drum
Noun (2)
Scottish Gaelic druim back, ridge, from Old Irish druimm
First Known Use
Noun (1)
circa 1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1582, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Noun (2)
1732, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing drum
Kids Definition
drum 1 of 2
noun
ˈdrəm
1
: a musical instrument usually consisting of a metal or wooden round frame with flat ends covered by tightly stretched skin
2
: a tapping sound : a sound of or like a drum
the drum of raindrops
3
: an object shaped like a cylinder
an oil drum
drum
2 of 2verb
drummed; drumming
1
: to beat or play a drum
2
: to make a tapping sound : make a sound like a drum
The rain drummed on the roof.
3
: to beat or tap in a rhythmic way
She drummed her fingers.
Medical Definition
drum
noun
ˈdrəm
: tympanic membrane
drums 1 of 2
noun
as in barrels
a metal container in the shape of a cylinder an oil drum Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- barrels
- cans
- tins
- canisters
- buckets
- pails
- cannisters
- tin cans
- cannikins
drums
2 of 2verb
as in taps
to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically absentmindedly drumming his fingers on the table Synonyms & Similar Words
- taps
- bangs
- beats
- raps
- claps
- pounds
- bats
- pats
- hammers
- thumps
- thwacks
- hits
- thuds
- knocks
- socks
- slams
- clicks
- bops
- clinks
- wallops
- clatters
- whacks
- pings
- bashes
- pastes
- smacks
- pitter-patters
- swats
- bonks
- chinks
- strikes
- flicks
- tips
- chucks
- pit-a-pats