percussion
noun
per·cus·sion pər-ˈkə-shən 
1
: the act of percussing: such as
a
: the striking of a percussion cap so as to set off the charge in a firearm
b
: the beating or striking of a musical instrument
c
: the act or technique of tapping the surface of a body part to learn the condition of the parts beneath by the resultant sound
2
: the striking of sound on the ear
3
: percussion instruments that form a section of a band or orchestra
percussion adjective
Example Sentences
He plays percussion for the band. The marimba is a percussion instrument.
Recent Examples on the Web The guitar and percussion duo performs works by Mexican composers Juan Trigos and Ricardo Zohn-Muldoon and Latin American classics by Antonio Lauro and Alirio Díaz. 
Matthew J. Palm, Orlando Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2022 Some songs could be an appetizer for the solo career of Peter Murphy, who wouldn’t find the same synthesis of reverb-laden percussion and croaking vox until a year or two later. Spin Staff, SPIN, 15 Aug. 2022 Brief clangs of Chinese percussion do warn us that there are other forces at work, as do the fervent People’s Liberation Army scenes. Heidi Waleson, WSJ, 9 Aug. 2022 But this is one of the few songs that sound recorded with live instruments — plinking guitar and some pitter-pat percussion. Wesley Morris, New York Times, 30 July 2022 The spontaneity of Chient Méchant’s jam sessions runs through their bright keys and bursts of fluttering percussion, tied together by whimsical synth oscillations and sparse vocals. Billboard Staff, Billboard, 20 May 2022 In addition, both are percussion instruments of a sort, yet have the capability of enormous dynamic range, loud to soft, from one chord to the next. Tim Page, WSJ, 25 Aug. 2022 With a full band of guitars, violin, cello, harp, multiple percussion instruments, and Groban's deep vocals carrying each song, the AMP was full of harmonies all night. Arkansas Online, 22 July 2022 Celtic harp, flute, violin and various smaller percussion instruments performed a pastoral, thematic soundtrack. Josh Chesler, SPIN, 20 July 2022 See More
Matthew J. Palm, Orlando Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2022 Some songs could be an appetizer for the solo career of Peter Murphy, who wouldn’t find the same synthesis of reverb-laden percussion and croaking vox until a year or two later. Spin Staff, SPIN, 15 Aug. 2022 Brief clangs of Chinese percussion do warn us that there are other forces at work, as do the fervent People’s Liberation Army scenes. Heidi Waleson, WSJ, 9 Aug. 2022 But this is one of the few songs that sound recorded with live instruments — plinking guitar and some pitter-pat percussion. Wesley Morris, New York Times, 30 July 2022 The spontaneity of Chient Méchant’s jam sessions runs through their bright keys and bursts of fluttering percussion, tied together by whimsical synth oscillations and sparse vocals. Billboard Staff, Billboard, 20 May 2022 In addition, both are percussion instruments of a sort, yet have the capability of enormous dynamic range, loud to soft, from one chord to the next. Tim Page, WSJ, 25 Aug. 2022 With a full band of guitars, violin, cello, harp, multiple percussion instruments, and Groban's deep vocals carrying each song, the AMP was full of harmonies all night. Arkansas Online, 22 July 2022 Celtic harp, flute, violin and various smaller percussion instruments performed a pastoral, thematic soundtrack. Josh Chesler, SPIN, 20 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French percussioun, from Latin percussion-, percussio, from percutere to beat, from per- thoroughly + quatere to shake
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing percussion
Kids Definition
percussion
noun
per·cus·sion pər-ˈkə-shən
: the musical instruments (as drums, cymbals, and maracas) that are played by striking or shaking
Medical Definition
percussion
noun
per·cus·sion pər-ˈkəsh-ən
1
: the act or technique of tapping the surface of a body part to learn the condition of the parts beneath by the resulting sound
2
: massage consisting of the striking of a body part with light rapid blows
called also tapotement