tambour

1 of 2

noun

tam·​bour ˈtam-ˌbu̇r How to pronounce tambour (audio)
tam-ˈbu̇r
1
2
a
: an embroidery frame
especially : a set of two interlocking hoops between which cloth is stretched before stitching
b
: embroidery made on a tambour frame
3
: a shallow metallic cup or drum with a thin elastic membrane supporting a writing lever used to transmit and register slight motions (such as arterial pulsations)
4
: a rolling top or front (as of a rolltop desk) of narrow strips of wood glued on canvas

tambour

2 of 2

verb

tamboured; tambouring; tambours

transitive verb

: to embroider (cloth) with tambour

intransitive verb

: to work at a tambour frame
tambourer noun

Examples of tambour in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Made with American poplar solid wood, maple veneers and butcher-block solid tambour doors. Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024 Since late 2020, the 23-year-old designer has been creating videos about her tambour embroidery work, a technique that affixes beads one at a time with a hooked needle. Sakeina Syed, Vogue, 10 Nov. 2023 Just before the final match starts, a tambour player beats out rhythms. Catherine Porter James Hill, New York Times, 25 July 2023 Alongside the loveseat is a tambour credenza by Peca, sourced from 1stDibs, and a textured woven artwork by Hiroko Takeda from Colony. Oliver Cano, ELLE Decor, 23 June 2023 So the secret to this house is tambour. Judy Rose, Detroit Free Press, 22 Nov. 2020 The birch-plywood closet, with tambour doors. Sarah Medford, WSJ, 4 Mar. 2022 Their unique materials went beyond tambour. Judy Rose, Detroit Free Press, 22 Nov. 2020 So many things reflect the writing life: a Renaissance Revival writing table, a small tambour George III writing desk. Roxana Robinson, The New Yorker, 16 Nov. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tambour.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French, drum, from Arabic ṭanbūr, modification of Persian tabīr

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1774, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of tambour was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near tambour

Cite this Entry

“Tambour.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tambour. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

tambour

noun
: a shallow metallic cup or drum with a thin elastic membrane supporting a writing lever used to transmit and register slight motions (as arterial pulsations and peristaltic contractions)

More from Merriam-Webster on tambour

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!