Meanings
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1
adj
relating to the eardrum, middle ear, or tympanum
The tympanic membrane vibrates when sound waves enter the ear canal.
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2
adj
resembling or characteristic of a drum
The creature's tight tympanic surface amplified each low vibration.
Thesaurus
Etymology
From tympanum + -ic, ultimately from Greek tympanon, 'drum.' Anatomical Latin used tympanum for the eardrum because its stretched membrane resembles the head of a drum.