tambourine

noun

tam·​bou·​rine ˌtam-bə-ˈrēn 

: 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

Examples of tambourine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the religious segment of the event, tambourines rattled as the new bishop of Chiclayo, Edinson Farfán, took to the microphone. —Marco Garro, New York Times, 12 May 2025

Toni Collette is still feeling the beat from that tambourine. —Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 8 Mar. 2025

In footage of their performance that Stagecoach posted on TikTok, Kevin, 66, sings lead vocals and plays tambourine, while his brother plays along on guitar. —Victoria Edel, People.com, 29 Apr. 2025

Sporadic chants punctuated a steady stream of tambourines, car horns, applause and cheering. —Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle French tambourin, diminutive of tambour

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tambourine

• acrolein
• adenine
• alkylene
• aniline
• anthracene
• aquiline
• asphaltene
• atlantean
• atrazine
• butadiene
• butylene
• caesarean

Kids Definition

tambourine

noun

tam·​bou·​rine ˌtam-bə-ˈrēn 

: a shallow drum with one head and loose metal disks at the sides that is played by shaking or striking with the hand