Drum — Defs

01 n. An instrument of percussion, consisting either of a hollow cylinder, over each end of which is stretched a piece of skin or vellum, to be b…

1.
An instrument of percussion, consisting either of a hollow cylinder, over each end of which is stretched a piece of skin or vellum, to be beaten with a stick; or of a metallic hemisphere (kettledrum) with a single piece of skin to be so beaten; the common instrument for marking time in martial music; one of the pair of tympani in an orchestra, or cavalry band.(Mus.)
“The drums cry bud-a-dub.” — Gascoigne.
2.
Anything resembling a drum in form(Anat.)
3.
See Drumfish.(Zool.) See: Drumfish
4.
A noisy, tumultuous assembly of fashionable people at a private house; a rout.[Archaic]
“Not unaptly styled a drum, from the noise and emptiness of the entertainment.” — Smollett.
5.
A tea party; a kettledrum.

Phrases & compounds

Bass drum — See in the Vocabulary.

Double drum — See under Double.

02 v. i. To beat a drum with sticks; to beat or play a tune on a drum.

imp. & p. p. Drummed; p. pr. & vb. n. Drumming

1.
To beat a drum with sticks; to beat or play a tune on a drum.
2.
To beat with the fingers, as with drumsticks; to beat with a rapid succession of strokes; to make a noise like that of a beaten drum; as, the ruffed grouse drums with his wings.
“Drumming with his fingers on the arm of his chair.” — W. Irving.
3.
To throb, as the heart.[R.]
4.
To go about, as a drummer does, to gather recruits, to draw or secure partisans, customers, etc,; -- with for.

03 v. t. To execute on a drum, as a tune.

1.
To execute on a drum, as a tune.
2.
(With out) To expel ignominiously, with beat of drum; as, to drum out a deserter or rogue from a camp, etc.
3.
(With up) To assemble by, or as by, beat of drum; to collect; to gather or draw by solicitation; as, to drum up recruits; to drum up customers.