# tambourine

/ˌtæmbɝˈin/ (US) · /tˈæmbəɹˌiːn/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tambourine
Updated: 2026-10-16

## Definition

a small round musical instrument you hold in one hand and shake or hit to make sound. It has small metal discs around the edge that jingle when you move it.

For teachers: a small hand-held percussion instrument consisting of a circular frame fitted with pairs of metal discs that jingle when shaken or struck.

## Examples

- She shakes the tambourine to keep the beat.
- The children clap and shake tambourines while the teacher plays the guitar during music class.
- From the back of the folk ensemble, the tambourine added a bright shimmer that lifted the chorus without overpowering the strings.

---

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.