: 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 beat of the agent’s drum, the rhythm of the red-hot afternoon in rural Pennsylvania.—Grace Byron, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2025 The new species belongs to a group of fish known as Sciaenidae, commonly called drums or croakers.—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
Joey Warnoker’s drumming, TLA’s mix, and Lenny Castro’s percussion all just sent it to the end-zone.—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 7 Oct. 2025 In his place, Rush have tapped German drummer and composer Anika Nilles, who previously drummed for late rock god Jeff Beck.—Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 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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