drum
drum
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "drum" is /drʌm/.
/dr/ - beginning consonant cluster
/ʌ/ - vowel
/m/ - ending consonant
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: drum
Plural Noun: drums
Present Tense Verb (base form): drum
Present Tense Verb (third-person singular): drums
Present Participle Verb: drumming
Past Tense Verb: drummed
Past Participle Verb: drummed
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A percussive musical instrument: A hollow cylindrical or conical frame with a membrane (skin or plastic) stretched tightly over one or both ends, played by striking with the hands or sticks to produce sound.
Synonyms: percussion instrument, tom-tom, snare, bass drum
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as it's a specific object)
A cylindrical container: A large, typically cylindrical container used for holding liquids (such as oil or chemicals) or dry bulk materials.
Synonyms: barrel, cask, keg, vat
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms)
Verb
To play a drum: To strike a drum or similar surface repeatedly to produce a rhythmic sound.
Synonyms: beat, tap, pound, rap
Antonyms: muffle, silence
To make a rhythmic sound: To produce a repetitive, often percussive sound, similar to that of a drum.
Synonyms: thrum, beat, patter, pulsate
Antonyms: quiet, hush
To instill repeatedly: To teach or impress something upon someone's mind by constant repetition or forceful urging.
Synonyms: ingrain, drill, hammer (into), inculcate
Antonyms: extract, remove, erase
Examples of Use
Books:
"Atticus said, 'You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view—until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.' " (Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird) - While "drum" isn't in this specific quote, the drumming of prejudice and societal expectations is a central theme throughout the book, often leading to conflict and injustice. A sentence using the word might be: "The incessant drumming of gossip and rumors in Maycomb made it difficult for Tom Robinson to receive a fair trial."
"The little drummer boy played his drum for the newborn king." (From the traditional Christmas carol, "The Little Drummer Boy") - This classic line is often found in children's books and anthologies of Christmas songs.
Newspapers:
"Local band The Rhythmic Souls will drum up support for the upcoming charity concert with a free performance in Central Park this Saturday." (The Daily Chronicle, June 25, 2025)
"Efforts to drum out corruption in the police force have shown promising results, according to the latest government report." (The Standard, July 1, 2025)
Online Publications:
"Mastering the rudiments of the snare drum is crucial for any aspiring percussionist." ( Modern Drummer Magazine Online, May 15, 2025)
"The recent economic downturn has seen a drum of job losses across several key sectors." (Forbes.com, June 20, 2025)
"Activists continue to drum up awareness about climate change through social media campaigns and public demonstrations." (GreenPeace.org, June 28, 2025)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Music: "We Will Rock You" by Queen famously uses a strong drum beat as its backbone. (Song, News of the World, 1977)
Film: In Whiplash (2014), the protagonist is a jazz drummer who strives for perfection under a demanding instructor.
Television: "The sound of the jungle drum grew louder as the adventurers pushed deeper into the unknown territory." (Narrator, Jungle Explorer series, Episode 3, aired June 10, 2025)
Video Games: In many rhythm-based video games like Guitar Hero or Rock Band, players use a specialized controller shaped like a drum kit to match on-screen prompts.
Podcasts: "Our guest today will drum home the importance of financial literacy for young adults." (Money Matters Podcast, Episode 112, released June 27, 2025)
General Public Discourse:
"Let's drum up some enthusiasm for the school's annual fundraiser!" (Parent at a PTA meeting)
"He's been trying to drum that idea into my head for weeks." (Person discussing a persistent friend)
"Can you hear that drum? I think there's a parade coming." (Child to a parent)
"The company is facing a lot of flak for having empty drums of toxic waste lying around." (Citizen commenting on local news)
10 Famous Quotes Using Drum
"He who has a drum will lead the dance." (African Proverb)
"The first drum of war is beat not by soldiers, but by words." (Attributed to Confucius, though likely a modern paraphrase of his philosophy)
"I have a big drum with two holes in it. I beat it every morning and every night. And I say, 'Thank you, God, for everything.'" (Maya Angelou)
"We beat on a drum that is not a drum, with a stick that is not a stick." (Zen Koan)
"I don't think there's anything else in the world that can produce that kind of feeling – you know, the drum that gets inside you." (Mickey Hart, Grateful Dead drummer)
"Life is a great drum and you've got to hit it hard." (Unknown)
"To him that has the drum, the world dances." (Proverb)
"My heart is a drum, a drum for you." (From the song "My Heart is a Drum" by Jonatha Brooke)
"The drum is the heartbeat of the earth." (Native American saying)
"The drum calls to us from the deep, ancient past, reminding us of our rhythms." (Unknown)
Etymology
The word "drum" as we use it today, particularly for the musical instrument, likely came into English in the early 15th century as "drom." Its origins are thought to be from the Middle Dutch word "tromme," which also meant "drum." This word "tromme" (and its relatives in other Germanic languages like German "Trommel" or Danish "tromme") probably got its sound from imitating the actual sound a drum makes – think of a "thump" or "thrum" sound.
Interestingly, the word "drum" might also be a shorter version of an older, less common English word: "drumslade." This word came from the Dutch "trommelslag," meaning "drumbeat" (a combination of "trommel" for drum and "slag" for beat). So, it's possible the English word started as the action of drumming and then evolved to describe the instrument itself.
Before "drum" became common, other words were used for similar instruments, like "tabour" (which eventually gave us "tambourine") and "timpan."
The very first known uses of "drum" in English, around the mid-1500s, referred to the percussive musical instrument with a hollow body and a stretched membrane. Over time, the meaning expanded to include other cylindrical objects or containers that resembled a drum. The verb form, meaning "to beat or play a drum," followed shortly after, around the 1570s.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Drum
Beat the drum for (something): To publicly advocate for or promote something enthusiastically.
Drum up (support/business/interest): To create or generate something, often with effort and publicity.
Drum out (of a place/organization): To expel someone from a place or group, often dishonorably.
Drum (something) into (someone's head): To teach or instill something repeatedly until it is learned or understood.
To get the drum beating: To get something started or invigorated.
Sound of a different drum: Refers to a different perspective, approach, or way of life (from "to march to the beat of a different drum").
To beat one's own drum: To boast about one's own achievements or qualities.
The big drum: The most important or influential person or thing (informal, less common).
To drum a tune: To tap out a rhythm or melody, often with fingers on a surface.
A drum roll: A sustained sound made by rapidly beating a drum, often used to build suspense before an announcement.
To march to the beat of a different drummer: To act in an individualistic way, not conforming to typical patterns.
As tight as a drum: Very taut or firm, or very full.
To drum on about (something): To talk about something at length, often repetitively and annoyingly.
Empty drums make the most noise: People who talk the most often have the least substance.
To beat the war drum: To prepare for or incite conflict.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of drum from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
