drum

Noun

1. A percussive musical instrument spanned with a thin covering on at least one end for striking, forming an acoustic chamber; a membranophone.
2. Any similar hollow, cylindrical object.
3. A barrel or large cylindrical container for liquid transport and storage.
4. (US) Synonym of construction barrel.
5. The encircling wall that supports a dome or cupola.
6. Any of the cylindrical blocks that make up the shaft of a pillar.
7. A drumfish (family Sciaenidae).
8. (Australia, slang) A tip; a piece of information.
9. (obsolete, slang) The ear.

Verb

1. (intransitive) To beat a drum.
2. (ambitransitive) To beat with a rapid succession of strokes.
3. (transitive) To drill or review in an attempt to establish memorization.
4. To throb, as the heart.
5. To go about, as a drummer does, to gather recruits, to draw or secure partisans, customers, etc.; used with for.
6. Of various animals, to make a vocalisation or mechanical sound that resembles drumming.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈdɹʌm/

Etymology

Cognate with Dutch: slag

Cognate with Middle High German: trumme

Cognate with Old High German: trumba

In summary

Perhaps back-formation from drumslade (“drummer”), from Middle Dutch trommelslach (“drumbeat”), from trommel (“drum”) + slach (“beat”) (Dutch slag).
Or perhaps borrowed directly from a continental Germanic language; compare Middle Dutch tromme (“drum”), Middle Low German trumme (“drum”) et al. Compare also Middle High German trumme, trumbe (“drum”), Old High German trumba (“trumpet”).

Synonyms

barrel

beat

cask

croaker

beat a drum

jew fish

large drum

tambour

tympan

cram

bone up

small drum

metal drum

brake drum

thrum

tap

swot

drumfish

bone

🦴

grind away

get up

swot up

mug up

kettle-drum

membranophone

tomtom

cup

donkey fish

keg

bang

tabour

tympanum

hammer

🔨

billycan

tambourine

tank

bass drum

scroll

📜

drumstick

plate

drumbeat

roller

metal container

knock

cylinder

percussion instrument

tabor

cooking pot

bray

column

Translations

tambour

🥁

tambor

🥁

Trommel

🥁

tamburo

🥁

tambor

🥁

trommel

🥁

bęben

tambor

🥁

trom

🥁

trommeln

🥁

τύμπανο

rol

bidone

🥁

timbal

🥁

davul

🥁