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   drum

   /drʌm/

   noun

   • 1. a percussion instrument sounded by being struck with sticks or the hands, typically cylindrical, barrel-shaped, or bowl-shaped, with a taut membrane over one or both ends: "a shuffling dance to the beat of a drum"
   • ▪ a drum kit: "how to play guitar, drums, or keyboards"
   • ▪ the percussion section of a band or orchestra.
   • ▪ a sound made by or resembling that of a drum: "the drum of their feet" Similar beatrhythmpattertapchatterpoundingthumpthumpingthudthuddingrattlerattlingpitter-patterrat-a-tatpit-a-patthrumtattoovibrationthrobthrobbingpulsationarchaic:bickerclacket
   • ▪ a military drummer. historical
   • 2. a cylindrical container or receptacle: "a drum of powdered bleach" Similar canisterbarrelcylindertankbincancontainerreceptacleholdervesselrepository
   • ▪ a rotating cylindrical part in a washing machine, in which the washing is placed.
   • ▪ a cylindrical part in certain other appliances.
   • ▪ the circular vertical wall supporting a dome.
   • ▪ a stone block forming part of a column.
   • ▪ a tramp's bundle of belongings. Australian, New Zealand
   • 3. a house or flat. informal British
   • 4. an evening or afternoon tea party of a kind that was popular in the late 18th and early 19th century: "a drum at Lady Beresford's"
   • 5. a piece of reliable inside information: informal Australian, New Zealand "he had got the drum that the police wouldn't lock us up"

   verb

   • 1. play on a drum or drums: "he channelled his energies into drumming with local groups"
   • ▪ make a continuous rhythmic noise: "she felt the blood drumming in her ears"
   • ▪ beat (the fingers, feet, etc.) repeatedly on a surface, especially as a sign of impatience or annoyance: "Frank drummed his fingers on the table" Similar tapbeatrapknockstrikethudthumphittattoothrum
   • ▪ (of a woodpecker) strike the bill rapidly on a dead trunk or branch, especially as a sound indicating a territorial claim: "two greater spotted woodpeckers were drumming"
   • ▪ (of a snipe) vibrate the outer tail feathers in a diving display flight, making a throbbing sound: "snipe should now be drumming all round the reserve"
   • 2. give (someone) reliable information or a warning: informal, dated Australian, New Zealand "I'm drumming you, if they come I'm going"

   Word Origin Middle English: from Middle Dutch or Low German tromme, of imitative origin.

   Scrabble Points: 7

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