drum

¹

[ druhm ]

noun

, plural drums, drum.

1. 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.
2. any hollow tree or similar object or device used in this way.
3. the sound produced by such an instrument, object, or device.
4. any rumbling or deep booming sound.
5. a natural organ by which an animal produces a loud or bass sound.
6. eardrum ( def ).
7. any cylindrical object with flat ends.
8. a cylindrical part of a machine.
9. a cylindrical box or receptacle, especially a large, metal one for storing or transporting liquids.
10. Also called tambour. Architecture.
    1. any of several cylindrical or nearly cylindrical stones laid one above the other to form a column or pier.
    2. a cylindrical or faceted construction supporting a dome.
11. Ichthyology. any of several marine and freshwater fishes of the family Sciaenidae that produce a drumming sound.
12. Also called drum memory. Computers. magnetic drum ( def ).
13. Archaic. an assembly of fashionable people at a private house in the evening.
14. a person who plays the drum.
15. Australian Informal. reliable, confidential, or profitable information:

    to give someone the drum.

verb (used without object)

drummingdrummed

1. to beat or play a drum.
2. to beat on anything rhythmically, especially to tap one's fingers rhythmically on a hard surface.
3. to make a sound like that of a drum; resound.
4. (of ruffed grouse and other birds) to produce a sound resembling drumming.

verb (used with object)

drummeddrumming

1. to beat (a drum) rhythmically; perform by beating a drum:

   to drum a rhythm for dancers.

2. to call or summon by, or as if by, beating a drum.
3. to drive or force by persistent repetition:

   to drum an idea into someone.

4. to fill a drum with; store in a drum:

   to drum contaminated water and dispose of it.

verb phrase

1. 1. to call or summon by, or as if by, beating a drum.
   2. to obtain or create (customers, trade, interest, etc.) through vigorous effort:

      They were unable to drum up enthusiasm for the new policies.

   3. to concoct; devise:

      to drum up new methods of dealing with urban crime.

2. 1. (formerly) to expel or dismiss from a military service in disgrace to the beat of a drum.
   2. to dismiss in disgrace:

      He was drummed out of the university for his gambling activities.

drum

²

[ druhm ]

noun

, Scot., Irish English.

1. a long, narrow hill or ridge.

drum

¹

/ drʌm /

noun

1. a narrow ridge or hill

drum

²

/ drʌm /

noun

1. music a percussion instrument sounded by striking a membrane stretched across the opening of a hollow cylinder or hemisphere
2. beat the drum for informal.
   to attempt to arouse interest in
3. the sound produced by a drum or any similar sound
4. an object that resembles a drum in shape, such as a large spool or a cylindrical container
5. architect
   1. one of a number of cylindrical blocks of stone used to construct the shaft of a column
   2. the wall or structure supporting a dome or cupola
6. short for eardrum
7. Also calleddrumfish any of various North American marine and freshwater sciaenid fishes, such as Equetus pulcher ( striped drum ), that utter a drumming sound
8. a type of hollow rotor for steam turbines or axial compressors
9. computing a rotating cylindrical device on which data may be stored for later retrieval: now mostly superseded by disks See disk
10. archaic.
    a drummer
11. the drum informal.
    the necessary information (esp in the phrase give ( someone ) the drum )

verb

1. to play (music) on or as if on a drum
2. to beat or tap (the fingers) rhythmically or regularly
3. intr (of birds) to produce a rhythmic sound, as by beating the bill against a tree, branch, etc
4. trsometimes foll byup to summon or call by drumming
5. tr to instil by constant repetition

   to drum an idea into someone's head

Other Words From

• un·der·drum·ming noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of drum¹

First recorded in 1535–45; of uncertain origin; probably a back formation from drumslade “drum, drummer,” alteration of Dutch or Low German trommelslag “drumbeat,” equivalent to trommel “drum” + slag “a beat”; cognate with slay

Origin of drum²

First recorded in 1725–35; from Irish and Scots Gaelic druim, of unknown origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of drum¹

C18: from Scottish Gaelic druim

Origin of drum²

C16: probably from Middle Dutch tromme, of imitative origin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. beat the drum, to promote, publicize, or advertise:

   The boss is out beating the drum for a new product.

Example Sentences

“This was such a shock. Dennis has been my friend, since we were in our first band together age 15. His great drumming will always Stay Alive.”

From Los Angeles Times

But the jolly tone gives way to something fiercer and more appropriately epic: a galloping rhythm on the drums, insistent bass and scorching guitar notes.

From New York Times

She even tried out the drums, which she ended up loving so much that she never stopped playing them.

From Los Angeles Times

It's a drum he beats repeatedly, arguing that "patriots" — meaning, of course, white men — are unwilling to serve lest they be exposed to "CRT, DEI nonsense, all the gender nonsense."

From Salon

Often called “Mr. Snap, Crackle” in tribute to his brisk, articulate drumming style, he wrote a signature tune with the same name for his own 1962 album, “Out of the Afternoon.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• strum