# percussion

/pɝˈkəʃən/ (US) · /pəkˈʌʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/percussion
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. musical instruments

noun · CEFR B2

musical instruments that you play by hitting, shaking, or scraping them, such as drums or bells.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. medical tapping

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a method where a doctor taps on your body with their fingers to listen to the sound it makes.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. mechanical impact

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the act of hitting something hard and repeatedly to break it or make a hole.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. firearm ignition

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Archaic

the hitting of a small cap to make a spark that fires a gun.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The loud percussion makes the song very energetic.
- The orchestra's percussion section includes a wide variety of instruments, from the timpani to the xylophone.
- Contemporary composers often experiment with non-traditional percussion, using found objects to create unique rhythmic textures that challenge the listener's expectations of orchestral sound.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.