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   drum

   /drəm/

   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 set of drums: "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 laundry is placed.
   • ▪ a cylindrical part in certain other appliances.
   • ▪ the circular vertical wall supporting a dome.
   • ▪ a stone block forming part of a column.
   • 3. 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"

   verb

   • 1. play on a drum or drums.
   • ▪ 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.
   • ▪ (of a snipe) vibrate the outer tail feathers in a diving display flight, making a throbbing sound.

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

   Scrabble Points: 7

   • D

     2

   • R

     1

   • U

     1

   • M

     3

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