Definitions
01musical instrument
A2 · Elementary Countable noun Music
n. a musical instrument that you hit with sticks or your hands to make a sound.
n. a percussive musical instrument consisting of a hollow shell with a membrane stretched across one or both ends.
“He played the drums in a rock band during high school.”
“The orchestral percussionist waited for the conductor's signal before beginning the steady, rhythmic beat on the bass drum.”
Synonyms
02large container
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. a large, round container used for storing or moving liquids like oil or chemicals.
n. a large cylindrical container, typically made of metal or plastic, used for the transport and storage of bulk liquids.
“The workers moved several heavy steel drums of oil into the warehouse.”
“Environmental inspectors discovered dozens of rusted drums containing hazardous industrial waste abandoned near the riverbank.”
03architecture
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Architecture Technical
n. the round wall that supports a dome on top of a building.
n. the upright, circular or polygonal wall that supports a dome or cupola.
“The tall drum of the cathedral supports a massive gold dome.”
“The architect designed an exceptionally high drum to elevate the dome, ensuring it would be visible from across the city skyline.”
Synonyms
04to hit repeatedly
B1 · Intermediate
v. to hit a surface many times quickly, often making a rhythmic sound.
v. to tap or beat rhythmically and rapidly on a surface.
“She drummed her fingers on the table while she waited for the phone to ring.”
“Rain began to drum loudly against the tin roof, drowning out the conversation inside the small cabin.”
05to teach by repetition
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to teach someone something by repeating it many times until they remember it.
v. to instill information or ideas into someone through persistent repetition.
“Our teacher drummed the safety rules into us before the field trip.”
“The importance of data privacy was drummed into the new recruits during their first week of intensive training.”
Usage
Often used with 'into' as in 'drum something into someone'.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “drum” in context.
Verb
01. beat a drum
“The parade started with a man loudly beating a drum to keep the rhythm.”
verb + noun
02. drum your fingers
“She began to drum her fingers on the desk while she waited for the phone to ring.”
verb + possessive + noun
03. play the drums
“My brother started to play the drums in a local rock band last year.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. steel drum
“The musician played a traditional steel drum during the Caribbean festival.”
adj + noun
Noun
05. drum kit
“He saved up all his money to buy a professional drum kit for his bedroom.”
noun + noun
06. oil drum
“They used an old metal oil drum to collect rainwater in the garden.”
noun + noun
07. sound of drums
“We could hear the distant sound of drums coming from the stadium.”
noun + of + noun
Etymology
Perhaps back-formation from drumslade (“drummer”), from Middle Dutch trommelslach (“drumbeat”), from trommel (“drum”) + slach (“beat”) (Dutch slag). Or perhaps borrowed directly from a continental Germanic language; compare Middle Dutch tromme (“drum”), Middle Low German trumme (“drum”) et al. Compare also Middle High German trumme, trumbe (“drum”), Old High German trumba (“trumpet”).
From Irish druim, Scottish Gaelic druim (“back, ridge”).
Unknown.
Shortening.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
Idioms
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/drum
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
‘외래어’ data: 한국어기초사전 (국립국어원), CC BY-SA 2.0 KR