tambourine

noun

tam·​bou·​rine ˌtam-bə-ˈrēn How to pronounce tambourine (audio)
: a small drum
especially : a shallow one-headed drum with loose metallic disks at the sides played especially by shaking or striking with the hand

Illustration of tambourine

Illustration of tambourine

Examples of tambourine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The toddler can be seen hitting the tambourine as his famous parents cheer him on. Liza Esquibias, Peoplemag, 27 Feb. 2024 Bust out the tambourine: Mattel has released a Stevie Nicks Barbie doll. Jessica Wang, EW.com, 2 Oct. 2023 The spellbinding look is completed by a golden moon necklace, knee-length black boots, and a tambourine with cascading ribbons. Jessica Wang, EW.com, 2 Oct. 2023 Sleater-Kinney’s Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker were joined by a three-piece backing band (plus Brownstein’s Portlandia accomplice Fred Armisen on tambourine), but led the performance themselves with weighted vocals and electric guitar riffs. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 14 Dec. 2023 Available are 90 guitars, 62 keyboards, 24 bass guitars, 15 maracas, five ukeleles, two tambourines, and a couple of cowbells. Evens Sanon and Dánica Coto, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Oct. 2023 Some shook tambourines, rang yellow bells or banged on pots. Elizabeth Chuck, NBC News, 4 Oct. 2023 The Stones were still merely doing their best impressions of Jimmy Reed and Willie Dixon instead of fashioning those songs into something to call their own in 1964, and the tambourine is often regrettably mixed higher than the drums. 20. Al Shipley, SPIN, 17 Oct. 2023 Thousands of and members lined the sidewalks surrounding the Warner Bros. Discovery office Thursday, raising signs of union solidarity and dancing to tambourines and drum beats as leaders chanted for a just contract. Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tambourine.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle French tambourin, diminutive of tambour

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tambourine was in 1579

Dictionary Entries Near tambourine

Cite this Entry

“Tambourine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tambourine. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tambourine

noun
tam·​bou·​rine ˌtam-bə-ˈrēn How to pronounce tambourine (audio)
: a shallow drum with one head and loose metal disks at the sides that is played by shaking or striking with the hand

More from Merriam-Webster on tambourine

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