: 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)
Noun (1)
an oil drumVerb
She drummed while he played the guitar.
Her fingers drummed nervously on the table.
He was nervously drumming a pencil on the desk.
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Noun
The studio owner, Gary Young, volunteered to play drums for them.—Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 19 May 2025 The younger Paul learned about recording in his father’s home studio in Mahwah and played drums in his touring band from 1959 to 1969.—Erin Osmon, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2025
Verb
Afterward, sit down to an Emirati dinner and shisha and partake in traditional dancing and drumming for a fun end to the evening.—Natasha Amar, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025 Josh Freese announced on social media Friday (May 16) that he’s been abruptly removed from the Foo Fighters‘ lineup after two years drumming for the band.—Glenn Rowley, Billboard, 16 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for drum
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
: 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
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