drum

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈdrəm 

1

: a percussion instrument consisting of a hollow shell or cylinder with a drumhead stretched over one or both ends that is beaten with the hands or with some implement (such as a stick or wire brush)

2

: tympanic membrane

3

: the sound of a drum

also : a sound similar to that of a drum

4

: any of various chiefly marine bony fishes (family Sciaenidae) that make a drumming or croaking noise using their air bladder and associated muscles

5

: something resembling a drum in shape: such as

a(1)

: any of the cylindrical blocks that form the shaft of a column

(2)

: a round wall or structure that supports a dome

b

: a cylindrical machine or mechanical device or part

c

: a cylindrical container

specifically : a large usually metal container for liquids

a 55-gallon drum

d

: a disk-shaped magazine for an automatic weapon

drumlike

ˈdrəm-ˌlīk 

adjective

Illustration of drum

• 1 bass
• 2 snare (orchestra)
• 3 snare (parade)

drum

2 of 3

verb

drummed; drumming

intransitive verb

1

: to make a succession of strokes or vibrations that produce sounds like drumbeats

2

: to beat a drum

3

: to throb or sound rhythmically

4

: to stir up interest : solicit

transitive verb

1

: to summon or enlist by or as if by beating a drum

were drummed into service

2

: to dismiss ignominiously : expel

—usually used with out

3

: to drive or force by steady effort or reiteration

drummed the speech into her head

4

a

: to strike or tap repeatedly

b

: to produce (rhythmic sounds) by such action

drum

3 of 3

noun (2)

1

chiefly Scotland : a long narrow hill or ridge

2

: drumlin

Word Icons

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• barrel
• tin

Verb

• tap
• bang

Examples of drum in a Sentence

Noun (1)

an oil drum

Verb

She drummed while he played the guitar.

Her fingers drummed nervously on the table.

He was nervously drumming a pencil on the desk.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The drums punch and plod like textbook EDM; indistinguishable synths twinkle. —Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 17 July 2025

The Velvet Sundown’s melodies follow chord progressions, and their songs have rhythm sections that follow along with the bass and drums. —Charlie Harding, Vulture, 16 July 2025

Verb

Drummer has been a staple at lacrosse games in Colorado and on the West Coast for almost two decades, using his war drumming to excite crowds while connecting them to the game’s Indigenous roots. —Kansas City Star, 6 July 2025

If another caterpillar wanders into their territory, these tiny critters start furiously drumming their heads, shaking their bodies and scraping their butts against the leaf—a series of complex vibratory behaviors to signal that their leaf tip is off-limits. —Rohini Subrahmanyam, Scientific American, 22 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

probably from Dutch trom; akin to Middle High German trumme drum

Noun (2)

Scottish Gaelic druim back, ridge, from Old Irish druimm

First Known Use

Noun (1)

circa 1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1582, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (2)

1732, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing drum

• bass drum
• beat/bang the drum for
• beat the drum
• drum brake
• drum into
• drum kit
• drum machine
• drum major
• drum majorette
• drum one's fingers
• drum out of
• drum up
• freshwater drum
• kick drum
• red drum
• side drum
• snare drum
• steel drum

Rhymes for drum

• bum
• chum
• come
• crum
• cum
• dum
• dumb
• from
• frum
• glum
• gum
• hum

Kids Definition

drum

1 of 2 noun

ˈdrəm 

1

: a musical percussion instrument consisting of a hollow cylinder with a thin layer of material (as animal skin or plastic) stretched over one or both ends that is beaten with a stick or with the hands

2

: the sound of a drum

also : a similar sound

3

: a drum-shaped object: as

a

: a cylindrical mechanical device or part

b

: a cylindrical container

oil drums

c

: a disk-shaped ammunition container that may be attached to a firearm

drum

2 of 2 verb

drummed; drumming

1

: to beat or play on or as if on a drum

2

: to sound rhythmically : throb, beat

3

: to call or gather together by or as if by beating a drum

drum up business

4

: to dismiss in shame : expel

drummed out of the army

5

: to drive or force by steady effort or repetition

drummed the lesson into their heads

6

: to strike or tap repeatedly so as to produce rhythmic sounds

drummed the table with his fingers

Medical Definition

drum

noun

ˈdrəm 

: tympanic membrane