drum

Plural: drums

Noun

a musical percussion instrument; usually consists of a hollow cylinder with a membrane stretched across each end
the sound of a drum
- "he could hear the drums before he heard the fifes"
a bulging cylindrical shape; hollow with flat ends
a cylindrical metal container used for shipping or storage of liquids
a hollow cast-iron cylinder attached to the wheel that forms part of the brakes
small to medium-sized bottom-dwelling food and game fishes of shallow coastal and fresh waters that make a drumming noise
A percussive musical instrument spanned with a thin covering on at least one end for striking, forming an acoustic chamber; a membranophone.
Any similar hollow, cylindrical object.
A barrel or large cylindrical container for liquid transport and storage.
Synonym of construction barrel.
The encircling wall that supports a dome or cupola.
Any of the cylindrical blocks that make up the shaft of a pillar.
A drumfish (family Sciaenidae).
A tip; a piece of information.
The ear.
A small hill or ridge of hills.
A social gathering or assembly held in the evening.
A person's home; a house or other building, especially when insalubrious; a tavern, a brothel.
A drumstick (of chicken, turkey, etc).

Verb

Verb Forms: drummed, drumming, drums

To beat a drum; to make a rhythmic percussive sound.
make a rhythmic sound
- "Rain drummed against the windshield"
- "The drums beat all night"
play a percussion instrument
study intensively, as before an exam
To beat a drum.
To beat with a rapid succession of strokes.
To drill or review in an attempt to establish memorization.
To throb, as the heart.
To go about, as a drummer does, to gather recruits, to draw or secure partisans, customers, etc.; used with for.
Of various animals, to make a vocalisation or mechanical sound that resembles drumming.

Examples

Another misfortune which befel poor Sophia, was the company of Lord Fellamar, whom she met at the opera, and who attended her to the drum.
He would drum his fingers impatiently as his opponent pondered a move.
He's playing the piano and she's playing the drums!
He’s still trying to drum Spanish verb conjugations into my head.
Replace the drum unit of your printer.
The restaurant ordered ketchup in 50-gallon drums.
The ruffed grouse drums with his wings.

Origin / 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”).

Synonyms

barrel, beat, bone, bone up, brake drum, cram, drumfish, get up, grind away, membranophone, metal drum, mug up, swot, swot up, thrum, tympan, construction barrel, skins

Scrabble Score: 7

drum: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
drum: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
drum: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 9

drum: valid Words With Friends Word