/ drʌm; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
a musical instrument made of a hollow round frame with plastic or skin stretched tightly across one or both ends. You play it by hitting it with sticks or with your hands :
a bass drum
Tony Cox on drums
to play the drums
a regular drum beat
2.
a large container for oil or chemicals, shaped like a cylinder :
a 50 gallon drum
an oil drum
3.
a thing shaped like a drum, especially part of a machine :
The mixture flows to a revolving drum where the water is filtered out.
•
IDIOMS
- beat / bang the drum (for sb/sth)
■ verb ( -mm- )
1.
[ v ] to play a drum
2.
drum (sth) on sth to make a sound by hitting a surface again and again :
[ vn ]
Impatiently, he drummed his fingers on the table.
[also v ]
•
IDIOMS
- drum sth into sb's head
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- drum sth into sb
- drum sb out (of sth)
- drum sth up
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Middle Dutch or Low German tromme , of imitative origin.