SINCE 1828
dictionary
thesaurus

thrum

verb (1)
Save Word
\ ˈthrəm How to pronounce thrum (audio) \
thrummed; thrumming

Definition of thrum

 (Entry 1 of 4)

intransitive verb

1 : to sound with a monotonous hum
2 : to play or pluck a stringed instrument idly : strum

transitive verb

1 : to play (something, such as a stringed instrument) in an idle or relaxed manner
2 : to recite tiresomely or monotonously

thrum

noun (1)

Definition of thrum (Entry 2 of 4)

: the monotonous sound of thrumming

thrum

noun (2)

Definition of thrum (Entry 3 of 4)

1a(1) : a fringe of warp threads left on the loom after the cloth has been removed
(2) : one of these warp threads
b : a tuft or short piece of rope yarn used in thrumming canvas —usually used in plural
c : bit, particle
2 : a hair, fiber, or threadlike leaf on a plant also : a tuft or fringe of such structures

thrum

verb (2)
thrummed; thrumming

Definition of thrum (Entry 4 of 4)

transitive verb

1 : to furnish with thrums : fringe
2 : to insert short pieces of rope yarn or spun yarn in (a piece of canvas) to make a rough surface or a mat which can be wrapped about rigging to prevent chafing

Other Words from thrum

Noun (2)

thrum adjective

First Known Use of thrum

Verb (1)

1592, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 2

Noun (1)

1798, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for thrum

Verb (1)

imitative

Noun (2)

Middle English, from Old English -thrum (in tungethrum ligament of the tongue); akin to Old High German drum fragment

Learn More About thrum

Time Traveler for thrum

Time Traveler

The first known use of thrum was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Dictionary Entries Near thrum

thru

thrum

thrumble

See More Nearby Entries 

Statistics for thrum

Cite this Entry

“Thrum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thrum. Accessed 27 May. 2022.

Style: MLA
MLACheck Mark Icon ChicagoCheck Mark Icon APACheck Mark Icon Merriam-WebsterCheck Mark Icon

More Definitions for thrum

thrum

verb
\ ˈthrəm How to pronounce thrum (audio) \
thrummed; thrumming

Kids Definition of thrum

: to play a stringed instrument idly : strum

More from Merriam-Webster on thrum

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for thrum

WORD OF THE DAY

uncanny

Listen to the pronunciation of uncanny

See Definitions and Examples »

Test Your Vocabulary

Great Words for Scrabble

  • scrabble tiles that read scrabble quiz
  • Which of the following Q-without-U words means the number five in cards or dice?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Universal Daily Crossword

A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games