I. ˈdrəm noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: probably from Dutch trom, from Middle Dutch tromme; akin to Middle Low German & Middle High German trumme, probably of imitative origin
1.
a. : a musical instrument of percussion usually consisting of a hollow cylinder with a skin head stretched over each end which is beaten with a stick or pair of sticks in playing ; broadly : a hollow instrument or device of any nonmetallic material beaten in any manner to produce a deep-toned rumbling or booming sound
b. : drummer 1
2.
a. : tympanum 1a(1)
b. : the timbal of a sound-producing insect
3.
a. : the sound of a drum
b. : a repetitious action similar to the beating of a drum
woodpeckers' drums
also : the sound made by such an action
heard the swooping drum of the racer's hooves — Eve Langley
4. : something resembling a drum in shape: as
a.
(1) : one of the cylindrical or nearly cylindrical blocks of which the shaft of a column is composed
(2) : a vertical wall that is circular or polygonal and carries a cupola or dome
b. : a revolving cylinder in which hides are tumbled during processing into leather (as for washing, pickling, tanning, dyeing) or in which furs are cleaned (by tumbling with fine sawdust)
c. : a hollow revolving cylinder for containing something to be acted upon: as
(1) : a cask in which the colors of fabrics are fixed by steaming
(2) : a drum washer in paper making
(3) : a perforated cylinder for sorting ore
4. also drum barker : a long open-ended cylinder in which logs are tumbled in water to loosen and remove the bark
d. : a hollow or solid revolving cylinder or barrel that acts or is acted upon by something exterior to itself: as
(1) : the winding part of a capstan or hoisting machine
(2) : a doffer in a carding machine
(3) : the roller for an autographic record
(4) : a long pulley for several belts
(5) : brake drum
e. : the barrel of a clock upon which the weight cord is wound
f. : the circular housing of a banjo-clock movement
g. : a straight-sided cylindrical shipping container of metal, plywood, or paperboard with flat or slightly bowed ends one of which may be removable ; specifically : a metal container for liquids having a capacity between 12 and 110 gallons or a fiber container with a capacity up to 10 cubic feet
h. : a small paper tube with a paper or transparent film covering one end
face-powder drum
i. : a cylindrical or rounded attachment for hot water, steam, or gases (as for a radiator or a reservoir)
j. : any of several disk-shaped magazines for feeding ammunition to automatic arms
5. : any of various fishes of the family Sciaenidae that are capable of making a drumming noise — compare croaker 2; see black drum , channel bass , freshwater drum
6. Australia : a bundle of personal possessions carried by a swagman
[s]drum.jpg[/s] [
drum 1: 1 bass, 2 snare (orchestra), 3 snare (parade)
]
II. verb
( drummed ; drummed ; drumming ; drums )
intransitive verb
1. : to beat a drum
2. : to make a succession of strokes or vibrations that produce sounds like drumbeats
his fingers drummed on the table
specifically of a bird : to produce such vibrations especially by beating the wings
the male grouse drumming in the distance
3. : to throb or sound rhythmically with or as if with drumbeats
the spring freshet drums in the narrow brooks — S.V.Benét
a plane drums in the sky overhead — Coulton Waugh
4. : to stir up interest : solicit , canvass
gangsters who fear peace and drum for war — Newsweek
drumming for business
transitive verb
1.
a. : to summon, gather, or enlist by or as if by beating a drum
to confound such time that drums him from his sport — Shakespeare
to make the detective appear a figure of power the police … are drummed into his service — W.O.Aydelotte
drumming up talent — New Republic
b. : to arouse or further interest in by repeated promotional efforts
cheered on by poets drumming the new struggle with Spartan despotism — E.R.May
2. : to drive or dismiss ignominiously as if with accompaniment of drumbeats : expel — now used with out
a beggar being drummed out of town — J.H.Allen
drummed out of military school — Springfield ( Massachusetts ) Republican
3. : to drive or force by unremitting effort or reiteration
drums into the girls two mottoes of her own — Time
my father drummed the idea out of my head
two issues almost daily drummed into the ears of Californians — M.F.A.Montagu
4.
a. : to strike or tap repeatedly
began to drum her heels against the wall — T.B.Costain
drummed the table with his fingers
b. : to produce (rhythmic sounds) by such action
rain drummed an accompaniment to the words — Christine Weston
5.
a. : to treat (a hide) in a drum
b. : to clean (a fur) by prolonged shaking with fine sawdust in a revolving drum
6. : to put into a drum
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Scottish Gaelic druim back ridge; akin to Old Irish druimm back ridge, Welsh trum
1. chiefly Scotland : a long narrow hill or ridge
2. : drumlin