snare drum

noun

: a small double-headed drum with one or more snares stretched across its lower head see drum illustration

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Hideg set up his snare drum in the company of pianist Cengiz Yaltkaya, alto saxophonist Jay Golden and guitarist Leo Vaz. —Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2023

The latter’s defining crescendo sometimes got ahead of itself, swamping even the snare drum. —Dallas News, 8 Jan. 2022

A lot of the backbeats are on the high-hat or really lightly on the snare drum. —Randall Roberts, Los Angeles Times, 22 June 2021

Filled with signature Motown elements – a romping snare drum, stacked background vocals on the hands-to-the-heavens chorus, sparkling organ – the 1965 hit for Frank Wilson is, simply, a blast. —Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 4 Nov. 2022

Swift utilizes a marching beat and rattling snare drum to convey this metaphoric study of the inherent battles in relationships. —Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 22 Oct. 2022

One person was wearing a Gumby costume and banging on a snare drum. —Joseph Goodman | [e-mail], al, 25 Oct. 2022

They were accompanied by double bassist Kevin Smith, harmonica great Mickey Raphael and drummer Billy English, who played on a lone snare drum. —George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Oct. 2022

Most of this piece is painted, but one brother’s shirt is cut from patterned paper, and the contrast between the sumptuous painter’s touch and the flat clarity of the paper also feels musical, like a saxophone giving way to a snare drum. —Cate Mcquaid, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Oct. 2022

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Word History

First Known Use

circa 1859, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

snare drum

noun

: a small two-headed drum that can be worn at the side while marching and that has a band of snares stretched across the lower head to rattle when the head vibrates to give the drum its special sound