timpani

noun

tim·​pa·​ni ˈtim-pə-nē 

variants or less commonly tympani

plural in form but singular or plural in construction

: a set of two or more kettledrums played by one performer in an orchestra or band

Examples of timpani in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Two men wrestled three large timpani drums up the steps to the space before the altar. —Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2025

The performers manipulate five batteries of drums, including timpani, snares, congas, bongos, tom-toms, and bass drums. —Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025

At the outset, cellos, double-basses, timpani (Wieland Welzel), and harp (Marie-Pierre Langlamet) established an oar-stroke rhythm that dragged ever so slightly as other instruments joined in and pushed ahead. —Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024

Underpinning the festive atmosphere was the bravura timpani playing of Vincent Vogel, who joined in 2022. —Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Italian, plural of timpano kettledrum, from Latin tympanum drum — more at tympanum

First Known Use

circa 1854, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for timpani

• abc
• absentee
• addressee
• adoptee
• agouti
• allottee
• amphorae
• amputee
• apc
• apogee
• appointee
• assessee

Kids Definition

timpani

plural noun

tim·​pa·​ni

variants also tympani

ˈtim-pə-nē

: a set of two or three kettledrums played by one performer

timpanist

-nəst

noun