tympanum

C2 Topic:The Human Body

US /ˈtɪmpənəm/ UK /ˈtɪmpənəm/ See IPA manual

Freq #267335

Meanings

1

noun
the eardrum or tympanic membrane, and historically the middle-ear cavity behind it

Pressure on either side of the tympanum must remain balanced for normal hearing.
2

noun
a thin sound-receiving membrane in certain insects and other animals

The moth detects ultrasonic calls through a tympanum on its body.
3

noun
the triangular area within a classical pediment, or the recessed area above a doorway bounded by an arch

The carved tympanum above the cathedral door depicts the Last Judgment.
4

noun
a drum or drumlike resonating structure

The instrument's stretched skin formed a shallow tympanum.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the eardrum or tympanic... eardrumtympanic membrane

2 noun · a thin sound-receiving... tympanal organ

3 noun · the triangular area within... pediment field

4 noun · a drum or drumlike... drum

Word family

Forms tympaniform

Derived forms tympanictympanalepitympanumhypotympanum

Related forms middle earhearingpedimenttimpani

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin tympanum ("drum, tambourine, eardrum"), from Greek tympanon. Anatomical and zoological senses compare a taut sound-sensitive membrane to a drumhead; architecture applied the same word to the framed surface within a pediment or arch.

Topics

The Human Body

External links

# tympanum

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈtɪmpənəm/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈtɪmpənəm/
**Frequency rank:** 267335

## Meanings
1. the eardrum or tympanic membrane, and historically the middle-ear cavity behind it
2. a thin sound-receiving membrane in certain insects and other animals
3. the triangular area within a classical pediment, or the recessed area above a doorway bounded by an arch
4. a drum or drumlike resonating structure

## Examples
- Pressure on either side of the tympanum must remain balanced for normal hearing.
- The moth detects ultrasonic calls through a tympanum on its body.
- The carved tympanum above the cathedral door depicts the Last Judgment.
- The instrument's stretched skin formed a shallow tympanum.

## Synonyms
- eardrum
- tympanic membrane
- drum

## Derived Forms
- tympanic
- tympanal
- epitympanum
- hypotympanum

## Related Forms
- middle ear
- hearing
- pediment
- timpani

## Etymology
Borrowed from Latin tympanum ("drum, tambourine, eardrum"), from Greek tympanon. Anatomical and zoological senses compare a taut sound-sensitive membrane to a drumhead; architecture applied the same word to the framed surface within a pediment or arch.

## Topics
- The Human Body

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