percussion
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
musical instruments that you play by hitting, shaking, or scraping them, such as drums or bells.
musical instruments played by striking with a hand or beater, or by shaking, including drums, cymbals, and xylophones.
Simple“She plays percussion in the school orchestra and specializes in the timpani.”
In context“The composer utilized a diverse array of percussion to create a rhythmic texture that felt both primal and modern.”
UsageOften used as an uncountable noun to refer to the section of an orchestra.
Synonymsdrumsrhythm section - 02 C1 Advanced
a method where a doctor taps on your body with their fingers to listen to the sound it makes.
a diagnostic procedure involving tapping the body surface to assess the density of the underlying structures by the sound produced.
Simple“The doctor used percussion on the patient's chest to check for fluid in the lungs.”
In context“Clinical percussion remains a fundamental skill for identifying changes in lung resonance during a physical examination.”
UsageTypically used as an uncountable noun in a clinical context.
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
the act of hitting something hard and repeatedly to break it or make a hole.
the striking of one body against another, especially to provide the force for drilling or breaking materials.
Simple“The workers used a percussion drill to break through the thick concrete floor.”
In context“Percussion drilling is often preferred in hard rock formations where a steady rotating force is insufficient to penetrate the strata.”
- 04 C2 Proficiency
the hitting of a small cap to make a spark that fires a gun.
the detonation of a primer or percussion cap by a sharp blow to ignite the propellant in a firearm.
Simple“Old rifles used a percussion system rather than modern cartridges to fire.”
In context“The transition from flintlock to percussion caps significantly improved the reliability of firearms in damp weather conditions.”
Synonyms
From Middle English percussioun, from Middle French, Old French percussion, from Latin percussiō (“striking”), from percutiō (“I strike”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.