I. pə(r)ˈkəshən noun
( -s )
Etymology: Latin percussion-, percussio, from percussus (past participle of percutere to beat, strike, from per-, intensifying prefix + -cutere, from quatere to shake, strike, beat) + -ion-, -io -ion — more at per , quash
1. : a forcible impact : blow , stroke : as
a. : an act or process of striking together
use flint and steel in making fire by percussion
b.
(1) : the beating or striking of a musical instrument
a drum is played by percussion
(2) : the sounding of a dissonant tone or chord — compare resolution 1d
c. : the setting off of an explosive charge by forcible contact ; specifically : the striking of a gun hammer on fulminating powder
d.
(1) : the act of tapping or striking the surface of a body part (as chest or abdomen) to learn the condition of the parts beneath by the resultant sound — compare auscultation
(2) : massage consisting of the striking of a body part with light rapid blows : tapotement
2. : a sharp auditory impact : vibratory shock
a long, quasi-narrative poem … which has percussion , if not much distinction as poetry — New Yorker
3. : the edge of the palm below the fourth finger — used chiefly by palmists
4.
a. : the section of a band or orchestra consisting of percussion instruments
enough strings to balance the brass and percussion — Virgil Thomson
b. : percussion instruments
big orchestras, with their brasses, woodwinds, and percussion — Joseph Wechsberg
Synonyms: see impact
II. adjective
1.
a. : of, relating to, or produced by percussion
classification of the percussion note into resonant, dull, and tympanitic — Medical Physics
b. : actuated or operating by percussion
percussion rifle
specifically : pneumatic
a percussion drill for drilling holes in rock
2. : of or relating to percussion instruments
members of the percussion choir are the tympani, the bass drum, the snare drum, the cymbals — Henry Melnik