I. ˈthrəm noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English -thrum (as in tungethrum ligament of the tongue); akin to Old Saxon thrumi end part of a spear, Old High German drum end part, fragment, Old Norse thrömr edge, verge, brim, Greek tramis perineum, termōn boundary, end — more at term
1.
a.
(1) : a fringe of warp threads left on the loom after the cloth has been removed
(2) : one of these warp threads
b. : loom waste consisting of warp ends and test fabric pieces
c. : a short soft thread or tuft of threads
d. : a tuft or short piece of rope yarn used in thrumming canvas — usually used in plural
e. : something held to resemble a thrum : bit , particle , scrap
2.
a. : a hair, fiber, or threadlike leaf on a plant that resembles or is held to resemble a thrum
b. : a tuft, bundle, fringe, or other mass of such structures
3. obsolete : a ragged beggarly lout
4. Britain : threepence : a threepenny piece
II. transitive verb
( thrummed ; thrummed ; thrumming ; thrums )
1.
a. : to furnish with thrums
b. : to cover with tufts or pile
2. obsolete : to attire with or as if with a covering or fringe : clothe , fringe
3. : to insert short pieces of rope yarn or spun yarn in (a piece of canvas) to make a rough surface or a mat which can be wrapped about rigging to prevent chafing or used to stop a leak
•
- thrum caps
III. adjective
: made of or woven from thrum
in his thrum nightcap — Laurence Sterne
IV. verb
( thrummed ; thrummed ; thrumming ; thrums )
Etymology: imitative
intransitive verb
1. : to play idly on or as if on a stringed musical instrument by plucking or strumming with the fingers or by keys
at night, with guitars, we thrummed and sang — Eve Langley
thrum on a mandolin
thrum on a table
2.
a. : to sound with a repeated and often monotonous hum like a string or an instrument when strummed
the blood thrummed in my ears — Rumer Godden
b. : to move accompanied by such a sound
the wire thrums out steadily — Science
3. : to repeat something over and over : to speak or read aloud monotonously
transitive verb
1. : to play (as a stringed musical instrument) in an idle or relaxed manner
thrums a preliminary chord or two — P.B.Kyne
thrum a guitar
2. : to recite monotonously : repeat in a singsong voice
3. : to strike with the fingers as if playing on a musical instrument : drum on
thrum the table
V. noun
( -s )
1. : an often monotonous sound made by thrumming
across the plaza came the thrum of guitars — Atlantic
thrum of hoofs from the paddock — Elizabeth Bowen
the thrum of the mighty engines
2. : the purring of a cat