Illustration of drum
- 1 bass
- 2 snare (orchestra)
- 3 snare (parade)
1
: 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)
3
: the sound of a drum
also
: a sound similar to that of a drum
4
: any of various chiefly marine bony fishes (family Sciaenidae) that make a drumming or croaking noise using their air bladder and associated muscles
5
: something resembling a drum in shape: such as
a(1)
: any of the cylindrical blocks that form the shaft of a column
(2)
: a round wall or structure that supports a dome
b
: a cylindrical machine or mechanical device or part
c
: a cylindrical container
specifically
: a large usually metal container for liquids
a 55-gallon drum
d
: a disk-shaped magazine for an automatic weapon
drummed; drumming
1
: to make a succession of strokes or vibrations that produce sounds like drumbeats
2
: to beat a drum
3
: to throb or sound rhythmically
4
: to stir up interest : solicit
1
: to summon or enlist by or as if by beating a drum
were drummed into service
2
: to dismiss ignominiously : expel
—usually used with out
3
: to drive or force by steady effort or reiteration
drummed the speech into her head
4
a
: to strike or tap repeatedly
b
: to produce (rhythmic sounds) by such action
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Synonyms
Examples of drum in a Sentence
Noun (1)
an oil drum
Verb
She drummed while he played the guitar.
Her fingers drummed nervously on the table.
He was nervously drumming a pencil on the desk.
Recent Examples on the Web
Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 7 Dec. 2024
But the crowd was with her, banging drums and calling her name.
—Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2024
Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 3 Dec. 2024
Visit a traditional fish market with a sushi master, or give Taiko drumming a try.
—Sandra MacGregor, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for drum 
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Noun
Add the wool wash to the washer drum, use cold water, and wash on the gentle, delicate, or wool cycle.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 7 Dec. 2024
But the crowd was with her, banging drums and calling her name.
—Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2024
Verb
Next year, My Chemical Romance will perform a stadium tour celebrating The Black Parade; Bryar was not slated to rejoin, having officially retired from drumming in 2021.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 3 Dec. 2024
Visit a traditional fish market with a sushi master, or give Taiko drumming a try.
—Sandra MacGregor, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for drum
Dictionary Entries Near drum
Cite this Entry
“Drum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drum. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
drum
1 of 2 noun1
: 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
drum
2 of 2 verb
drummed; drumming
1
: to beat or play on or as if on a drum
3
: to call or gather together by or as if by beating a drum
drum up business
4
: to dismiss in shame : expel
drummed out of the army
5
: to drive or force by steady effort or repetition
drummed the lesson into their heads
6
: to strike or tap repeatedly so as to produce rhythmic sounds
drummed the table with his fingers
Medical Definition
drum
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