drum

[ druhm ]

/ drʌm /

noun, plural drums, (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.

Australian Informal. 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

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, druid stone, druidess, druidism, druidology, drum, drum and bugle corps, drum brake, drum corps, drum into someone's head, drum kit

British Dictionary definitions for beat the drum (1 of 2)

drum ¹

/ (drʌm) /

noun

music a percussion instrument sounded by striking a membrane stretched across the opening of a hollow cylinder or hemisphere

beat the drum for informal to 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: drumfish any 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

computing a rotating cylindrical device on which data may be stored for later retrieval: now mostly superseded by disks See disk (def. 2)

archaic a drummer

the drum Australian informal the necessary information (esp in the phrase give (someone) the drum)

verb drums, drumming or drummed

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 repetition to drum an idea into someone's head

Word Origin for drum

C16: probably from Middle Dutch tromme, of imitative origin

British Dictionary definitions for beat the drum (2 of 2)

drum ²

/ (drʌm) /

noun

Scot and Irish a narrow ridge or hill

Word Origin for drum

C18: from Scottish Gaelic druim

Medical definitions for beat the drum

drum

[ drŭm ]

n.

eardrum

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

drum

noun, plural drums, (especially collectively for 11) drum.

verb (used without object), drummed, drum·ming.

verb (used with object), drummed, drum·ming.

Verb Phrases

Idioms for drum

Origin of drum

OTHER WORDS FROM drum

Words nearby drum

British Dictionary definitions for beat the drum (1 of 2)

noun

verb drums, drumming or drummed

Word Origin for drum

British Dictionary definitions for beat the drum (2 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for drum

Medical definitions for beat the drum

n.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

drum

noun, plural drums, (especially collectively for 11) drum.

verb (used without object), drummed, drum·ming.

verb (used with object), drummed, drum·ming.

Verb Phrases

Idioms for drum

Origin of drum

OTHER WORDS FROM drum

Words nearby drum

Words related to beat the drum

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for beat the drum (1 of 2)

noun

verb drums, drumming or drummed

Word Origin for drum

British Dictionary definitions for beat the drum (2 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for drum

Medical definitions for beat the drum

n.

British Dictionary definitions for beat the drum (1 of 2)