drum

Meaning

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.

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

🥁

tambor

🥁

trom

🥁

trommeln

🥁

τύμπανο

rol

bidone

🥁

timbal

🥁

davul

🥁

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”).