drum

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the sound of a drum

   They could hear the drums before they heard the fifes.

2. 2
   verb

   make a rhythmic sound

   Rain drummed against the windshield

3. 3
   noun

   A percussive musical instrument spanned with a thin covering on at least one end for striking, forming an acoustic chamber; a membranophone.

   He's playing the piano and she's playing the drums!

4. 4
   noun

   Any similar hollow, cylindrical object.

   Replace the drum unit of your printer.

5. 5
   noun

   A barrel or large cylindrical container for liquid transport and storage.

   The restaurant ordered ketchup in 50-gallon drums.

6. 6
   noun

   A tip; a piece of information.

   ‘he is the darndest little speaker we got, so better sit there and listen to him while he gives you the drum and if you clean out your earholes you might get a bit of sense into your heads.’

7. 7
   verb

   To beat with a rapid succession of strokes.

   The ruffed grouse drums with his wings.

8. 8
   verb

   To drill or review in an attempt to establish memorization.

   He’s still trying to drum Spanish verb conjugations into my head.

Etymology

Perhaps back-formation from drumslade (“drummer”), from Middle Dutch trommelslach (“drumbeat”), from trommel (“drum”) + slach (“beat”) (Dutch slag). Or perhaps borrowed directly from a continental Germanic language; compare Middle Dutch tromme (“drum”), Middle Low German trumme (“drum”) et al. Compare also Middle High German trumme, trumbe (“drum”), Old High German trumba (“trumpet”).