: a small double-headed drum with one or more snares stretched across its lower head see drum illustration
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebNelson’s stage setup was modest: Himself and Particle Kid son acoustic guitars with an upright bass, snare drum and harmonica players surrounding them, backed by a massive flag of Texas.cleveland, 30 July 2022 The guitars stop, the snare drum hits and there's dead air in the song. Steve Baltin, Forbes, 5 July 2022 If uttered on stage, this quip could be accompanied by a snare drum rim shot. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 July 2022 From its first sepulchral rumble in the dark to the lonely ending — papery wrinkles of snare drum; a cello solo high and yearning enough to mimic a viola; quietly breathless winds — Dean’s score contains multitudes and mysteries.New York Times, 15 May 2022 The louder ones have all the subtlety of a kid with a snare drum. Tony Quiroga, Car and Driver, 21 Mar. 2022 Bueno, too, follows Ravel’s 20-minute crescendo as wails from the orchestra pit become increasingly unfettered from the rigid tempo compelled by a snare drum the whole time. Lauren Warnecke, chicagotribune.com, 14 Oct. 2021 Watts tended to pull his right hand away on the upbeat, giving his left a clear path to the snare drum — lending the beat a strong but slightly off-kilter momentum.New York Times, 24 Aug. 2021 When the team played rock music, Cog managed to beat out a passable rhythm on a snare drum. Meghan O'gieblyn, Wired, 24 Aug. 2021 See More
Word History
First Known Use
circa 1859, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
snare drum
noun
: a small drum with two heads that has strings stretched across its lower head to produce a rattling sound