Word
Definitions
01musical instruments
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Music
n. musical instruments that you play by hitting, shaking, or scraping them, such as drums or bells.
n. musical instruments played by striking with a hand or beater, or by shaking, including drums, cymbals, and xylophones.
“She plays percussion in the school orchestra and specializes in the timpani.”
“The composer utilized a diverse array of percussion to create a rhythmic texture that felt both primal and modern.”
Usage
Often used as an uncountable noun to refer to the section of an orchestra.
Synonyms
02medical tapping
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Medicine Technical
n. a method where a doctor taps on your body with their fingers to listen to the sound it makes.
n. a diagnostic procedure involving tapping the body surface to assess the density of the underlying structures by the sound produced.
“The doctor used percussion on the patient's chest to check for fluid in the lungs.”
“Clinical percussion remains a fundamental skill for identifying changes in lung resonance during a physical examination.”
Usage
Typically used as an uncountable noun in a clinical context.
Synonyms
03mechanical impact
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Science Technical
n. the act of hitting something hard and repeatedly to break it or make a hole.
n. the striking of one body against another, especially to provide the force for drilling or breaking materials.
“The workers used a percussion drill to break through the thick concrete floor.”
“Percussion drilling is often preferred in hard rock formations where a steady rotating force is insufficient to penetrate the strata.”
04firearm ignition
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Technical · Archaic
n. the hitting of a small cap to make a spark that fires a gun.
n. the detonation of a primer or percussion cap by a sharp blow to ignite the propellant in a firearm.
“Old rifles used a percussion system rather than modern cartridges to fire.”
“The transition from flintlock to percussion caps significantly improved the reliability of firearms in damp weather conditions.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“He felt the pull of percussion early on, he says: “Rhythmic music has probably always been in my blood, going to weddings and being exposed to the dhol [drums].” “Drummer Zev Rose– also a hugely dynamic player, especially when using electronic percussion – is cut off from his bandmates on a high drum riser.” Etymology
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.
Related words
Domains
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/percussion
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0