: 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)
Noun (1)
an oil drumVerb
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
Noun
In addition to online highlights of Key making tackles and interceptions, there’s a YouTube video of Key playing the drums blindfolded.—Richard Dunn, Orange County Register, 4 July 2024 Artist Questionnaire: The artist Charles Gaines discussed his new work at the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park in Alabama, the development of his practice and taking drum lessons from Jimmie Smith.—Gloria Oladipo, New York Times, 3 July 2024
Verb
There was even talk of importing someone from the other end of Caldwell County—a man was said to live there who had really fought, not just drummed, and who had a letter of commendation signed by Longstreet.—E. L. Doctorow, The New Yorker, 1 July 2024 Katharine McPhee Foster and David Foster's 3-year-old son Rennie made headlines earlier this year when a video of him drumming at one of his dad's Washington D.C. shows went viral.—Gillian Telling, Peoplemag, 27 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for drum
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'drum.' 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
Noun (1)
probably from Dutch trom; akin to Middle High German trumme drum
Noun (2)
Scottish Gaelic druim back, ridge, from Old Irish druimm
: 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
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