cymbal

noun

cym·​bal ˈsim-bəl 

: a concave metal plate (as of brass or bronze) that produces a brilliant clashing tone and that is struck with a drumstick or is used in pairs struck glancingly together

cymbalist

ˈsim-bə-list 

noun

Examples of cymbal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The acoustic guitar is a little subdued, the cymbals lack sizzle, and the soundstage feels narrow, making things come through as cluttered. —Christian De Looper, PC Magazine, 1 July 2025

Loud cymbal crash: Two kick ass-rock drummers, Josh Freese and Zak Starkey, have been fired by their respective bands within days of each other. —Devon Ivie, Vulture, 19 May 2025

Though well-preserved, the cymbals also experienced some degradation over the millennia. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2025

But the soul of that album — its crashing cymbals, warm reverb and its sense of expansive solitude and melancholy — still feels tethered to that beach house in the middle of nowhere, at least to Parker. —Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English cymbal & Anglo-French cymbele, from Latin cymbalum, from Greek kymbalon, from kymbē bowl, boat

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cymbal

• gimbal
• nimble
• symbol
• thimble

Kids Definition

cymbal

noun

cym·​bal ˈsim-bəl 

: a brass plate that is struck with a drumstick or is used in pairs struck together to make a clashing sound

cymbalist

-bə-ləst 

noun