drummer

A2 Topic:Art & Music

US /ˈdrʌmər/ UK /ˈdrʌmə/ See IPA manual

Freq #9648

Meanings

1

noun
a person who plays a drum or a drum kit

The drummer counted in the song with four sharp taps.
2

noun
historical: a military musician who transmitted signals and kept marching time with a drum

The regiment's drummer sounded the order to advance.
3

noun
any of several fishes that make a drumming or croaking sound

The angler caught a drummer near the rocky reef.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a person who plays a drum... percussionistdrum player

2 noun · historical: a military... military drummerdrum major

3 noun · any of several fishes that... drumfishdrum

Word family

Derived forms drummerlesskettledrummer

Related forms drum rhythm percussiondrumfish

Etymology

Formed from drum + -er, naming one who plays the instrument. Military drummers once carried commands across battlefields and set marching pace, which underlies figurative phrases about following a different drummer. The fish sense comes independently from the drumming sounds made by members of several fish families.

Topics

Art & Music

External links

# drummer

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈdrʌmər/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈdrʌmə/
**Frequency rank:** 9648

## Meanings
1. a person who plays a drum or a drum kit
2. historical: a military musician who transmitted signals and kept marching time with a drum
3. any of several fishes that make a drumming or croaking sound

## Examples
- The drummer counted in the song with four sharp taps.
- The regiment's drummer sounded the order to advance.
- The angler caught a drummer near the rocky reef.

## Synonyms
- percussionist
- drum player
- military drummer
- drumfish
- drum

## Derived Forms
- drummerless
- kettledrummer

## Related Forms
- drum
- rhythm
- percussion
- drumfish

## Etymology
Formed from drum + -er, naming one who plays the instrument. Military drummers once carried commands across battlefields and set marching pace, which underlies figurative phrases about following a different drummer. The fish sense comes independently from the drumming sounds made by members of several fish families.

## Topics
- Art & Music

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