noun,pluraldrums,(especially collectively for 11)drum.
a musical percussion instrument consisting of a hollow, usually cylindrical, body covered at one or both ends with a tightly stretched membrane, or head, which is struck with the hand, a stick, or a pair of sticks, and typically produces a booming, tapping, or hollow sound.
any hollow tree or similar object or device used in this way.
the sound produced by such an instrument, object, or device.
any rumbling or deep booming sound.
a natural organ by which an animal produces a loud or bass sound.
eardrum.
any cylindrical object with flat ends.
a cylindrical part of a machine.
a cylindrical box or receptacle, especially a large, metal one for storing or transporting liquids.
Also called tambour .Architecture.
any of several cylindrical or nearly cylindrical stones laid one above the other to form a column or pier.
a cylindrical or faceted construction supporting a dome.
any of several marine and freshwater fishes of the family Sciaenidae that produce a drumming sound.
Also called drum memory.Computers. magnetic drum.
Archaic. an assembly of fashionable people at a private house in the evening.
a person who plays the drum.
AustralianInformal. reliable, confidential, or profitable information: to give someone the drum.
verb (used without object),drummed,drum·ming.
to beat or play a drum.
to beat on anything rhythmically, especially to tap one's fingers rhythmically on a hard surface.
to make a sound like that of a drum; resound.
(of ruffed grouse and other birds) to produce a sound resembling drumming.
verb (used with object),drummed,drum·ming.
to beat (a drum) rhythmically; perform by beating a drum: to drum a rhythm for dancers.
to call or summon by, or as if by, beating a drum.
to drive or force by persistent repetition: to drum an idea into someone.
to fill a drum with; store in a drum: to drum contaminated water and dispose of it.
Verb Phrases
drum out,
(formerly) to expel or dismiss from a military service in disgrace to the beat of a drum.
to dismiss in disgrace: He was drummed out of the university for his gambling activities.
drum up,
to call or summon by, or as if by, beating a drum.
to obtain or create (customers, trade, interest, etc.) through vigorous effort: They were unable to drum up enthusiasm for the new policies.
to concoct; devise: to drum up new methods of dealing with urban crime.
Idioms for drum
beat the drum, to promote, publicize, or advertise: The boss is out beating the drum for a new product.
Origin of drum
1
1535–45; back formation from drumslade drum, drummer, alteration of Dutch or Low German trommelslag drumbeat, equivalent to trommel drum + slag beat (akin to slagen to beat; cognate with slay)
OTHER WORDS FROM drum
un·der·drum·ming,noun
Words nearby drum
Druid, Druidess, druidism, druidology, Druid stone, drum, drum and bugle corps, drumbeat, drumbeater, drum brake, drum corps
It also would have enhanced the sounds of drums or other musical instruments, Cox says.
Stonehenge enhanced voices and music within the stone ring|Bruce Bower|September 29, 2020|Science News For Students
All that to be said, I think the drum we advertisers need to be beating isn’t primarily “who owns the data”, though certainly let’s get that determined.
This decade’s most important marketing question: What data rights do advertisers possess?|Kirk Williams|September 17, 2020|Search Engine Land
Clicking on different objects, like the clock and the piano, prompts the user to adjust different tracks, like the drum line and melody.
Create your own moody quarantine music with Google’s AI|Karen Hao|September 4, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Authorities are trying to figure out what to do about a drum circle in Ocean Beach.
Morning Report: Rural Districts Still Scrambling to Prepare for Online Learning|Voice of San Diego|August 12, 2020|Voice of San Diego
As our lives pass day by day, the beating drums of the weekly routine take over and years pass until we reach our goal of retirement.
The Global Work Crisis: Automation, the Case Against Jobs, and What to Do About It|Peter Xing|August 6, 2020|Singularity Hub
Even his signature instrument, Auto-Tune, has become as accepted an ingredient in hip-hop as the drum machine.
Future Makes Us Rethink Everything We Thought We Knew About Rap Artists|Luke Hopping|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They marched through the streets of downtown New York to the synchronized beats of the Continental drum corps that followed.
New York’s Century-Old Time Capsule Is a Dud|Justin Jones|October 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He ran like he was barreling down the stairs and he struggled to climb the 15-foot-tall drum riser.
I'm Not Country or Pop. I'm Just Pure Garth Brooks.|David Masciotra|September 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She was distraught and sad walking through a park on Long Island when she joined a drum circle on a whim.
Drums Aren’t Just for Music: They’re Therapy, Too|Dale Eisinger|July 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At the turn of the century, zoos displaying so-called primitive cultures were used to drum up public support for colonialism.
Norway’s Controversial Human Zoo Is Back|Nina Strochlic|May 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The irruption of this motley crew with beat of drum, according to ancient custom, was the consummation of uproar and merriment.
The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.|Washington Irving
In operation, a coating of coffee liquor is applied automatically, by means of a special device, to the outside of the drum.
All About Coffee|William H. Ukers
He beats his drum and sings, while a woman within repeats the chant in a shrill voice.
Omens and Superstitions of Southern India|Edgar Thurston
This created enigmas which exercised the imaginations of the big girls, such as: Ah, how delightful is the drum!
Les Misrables|Victor Hugo
The drum stick of a roast chicken or turkey is greatly improved by removing the tendons.
Public School Domestic Science|Mrs. J. Hoodless
British Dictionary definitions for drum (1 of 2)
drum1
/ (drʌm) /
noun
musica percussion instrument sounded by striking a membrane stretched across the opening of a hollow cylinder or hemisphere
beat the drum forinformalto attempt to arouse interest in
the sound produced by a drum or any similar sound
an object that resembles a drum in shape, such as a large spool or a cylindrical container
architect
one of a number of cylindrical blocks of stone used to construct the shaft of a column
the wall or structure supporting a dome or cupola
short for eardrum
Also called: drumfishany of various North American marine and freshwater sciaenid fishes, such as Equetus pulcher (striped drum), that utter a drumming sound
a type of hollow rotor for steam turbines or axial compressors
computinga rotating cylindrical device on which data may be stored for later retrieval: now mostly superseded by disksSee disk (def. 2)
archaica drummer
the drumAustralianinformalthe necessary information (esp in the phrase give (someone) the drum)
verbdrums, drummingordrummed
to play (music) on or as if on a drum
to beat or tap (the fingers) rhythmically or regularly
(intr)(of birds) to produce a rhythmic sound, as by beating the bill against a tree, branch, etc
(tr sometimes foll by up) to summon or call by drumming
(tr)to instil by constant repetitionto drum an idea into someone's head
See also drum out, drum up
Word Origin for drum
C16: probably from Middle Dutch tromme, of imitative origin