drum

DRUM/ˈdɹʌm/

19 meanings of drum

1
nouncountable
A hollow instrument you hit to make a beat, with a tight skin stretched over the top.
Like a tight skin over a bowl that booms when you tap it.
She hit the drum hard to keep the beat going.
The marching band carried huge drums down the street.
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2
nouncountable
A large round container, like a barrel, used to hold or move liquids.
Like a big metal can that can hold a lot of liquid.
They rolled a drum of oil across the yard.
Empty drums were stacked behind the factory.
Similarbarrel, canister
3
nouncountable
Any hollow, round, tube-shaped object shaped like a barrel.
Like the round tube inside a roll of paper towels.
The cable wound neatly around the drum.
Workers replaced the worn drums inside the machine.
Similarcylinder, roller, barrel
4
nouncolloquialcountable
The lower leg part of a cooked bird, like chicken or turkey.
Like the little leg part you hold when eating fried chicken.
He grabbed a drum from the plate of fried chicken.
The kids fought over the last two drums.
Similardrumstick, leg
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5
verbintransitive
To play a drum by hitting it with hands or sticks.
Like tapping out a steady beat on a tabletop.
He drummed all night at the festival.
She loves to drum in the school band.
Similarbeat, pound
6
verbtransitive or intransitive
To hit something quickly over and over again.
Like raindrops tapping fast on a window.
Rain drummed on the metal roof all afternoon.
She likes to drum her fingers on the desk when she waits.
Similartap, rap, beat, pound, patter
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7
verbtransitive
To teach something by repeating it again and again until it sticks.
Like saying a phone number over and over until you never forget it.
The teacher drummed the spelling rules into the class.
Coaches drum the basic plays into new players every season.
Similardrill, hammer, instill
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8
verbintransitive
To beat strongly and steadily, the way your heart does.
Like a fast beat you can feel inside your chest.
Her heart drummed in her chest before the test.
I could feel my pulse drum after the long run.
Similarpound, thump, throb, hammer, beat
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9
verbintransitive
To make a fast, drum-like sound, as some animals and birds do.
Like tapping a fast beat, but made by an animal.
Male grouse drum loudly to attract mates in spring.
The woodpecker drummed against the hollow trunk.
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10
nouncountable
The round wall that holds up a dome on top of a building.
Like a round wall that works as a stand for a dome to sit on.
The church's dome rests on a tall stone drum.
Windows around the drum let light into the hall below.
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11
nouncountable
One of the round stone blocks stacked to form the shaft of a column.
Like stacking round blocks on top of each other to build a tall pole.
Each drum of the column was carved from a single block of stone.
Workers lifted the heavy drums into place one at a time.
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12
nounUScountable
A large plastic barrel used to block off or mark areas at a road work site.
Like a big traffic cone, but shaped like a barrel.
A drum blocked the closed lane, so we merged left.
Orange drums lined the highway near the construction site.
Similarbarrel
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13
nouncountable
A type of fish that makes a low drumming or croaking sound.
Like a frog that croaks, but it lives in the water as a fish.
We caught a drum off the pier last weekend.
The drums were biting well in the muddy shallows.
Similardrumfish
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14
verbintransitive
To go around trying to find customers, supporters, or new members.
Like going door to door to get people to join your team.
He spent the week drumming for new subscribers door to door.
Volunteers drum for support in every neighborhood before the vote.
Similarcanvass, campaign, tout
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15
nounslangAustralia
A useful piece of information or a helpful tip.
Like a secret hint from a friend that helps you decide.
Give me the drum on what happened at the meeting.
She had the drum on every good deal in town.
Similartip, lowdown, word, info
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16
nounslangUKcountable
A person's home or house, especially a shabby or run-down one.
Like saying 'my place' to mean where you live.
They headed back to his drum after the pub closed.
Her drum was just two rooms above the shop.
Similarpad, place, crib
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17
nounhistoricalcountable
An evening party or gathering held in someone's home.
Like a big evening party at someone's house.
The duchess held a grand drum at her townhouse that night.
'Ten o'clock, and you are lighted as for a drum!
1898, Stanley John Weyman, The Castle InnHere, drum means an evening party where people meet socially.
Similarparty, soiree, gathering, reception
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18
nounarchaic
A small hill or a low line of hills.
Like a small bump of land that rises above flat ground.
The cottage sat on a low drum above the river.
Sheep grazed along the grassy drum at dawn.
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19
nounobsolete
The ear: the part of the head used for hearing.
Like the eardrum inside your ear that lets you hear sounds.
The blow caught him square on the drum.
He cupped a hand to his drum to catch the whisper.
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Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1–3, 5–15, 19

Maybe a shortened form of "drumslade" (drummer), which came from Middle Dutch words for a drumbeat. Or maybe borrowed from another Germanic language with similar words for "drum."

Meaning 18

From Irish and Scottish Gaelic "druim," meaning "back" or "ridge."