drum

A musical instrument with a tight covering that you hit with sticks or your hands.

• She hit the drum with a stick.
• He plays drums in a band.
• The sound of a bass drum filled the hall.

Similar words: skins

Common phrases: play the drum, bass drum, snare drum, drum kit

A large round container with flat ends, used for storing or carrying liquids and other materials.

• The oil drum was empty.
• They stored fuel in metal drums.
• We filled an old drum with rainwater.

Similar words: barrel

Common phrases: oil drum, steel drum, empty drum, fuel drum

A round wall that supports the curved roof of a building.

• The dome rests on a stone drum.
• Tall windows surround the drum beneath the dome.
• The architect designed a wider drum to support the new cupola.

Common phrases: dome drum, circular drum, drum beneath something

To play a musical instrument by hitting its tight covering with sticks or your hands.

• He loves to drum.
• She drummed with a local band for years.
• Can you drum in time with the music?

Similar words: play drums

Common phrases: drum in time, drum with someone, drum for someone

To hit a surface repeatedly with your fingers or another object, often while waiting.

• Stop drumming on the table.
• He drummed his fingers against the window.
• She was drumming on her notebook with a pen.

How to use it: drum your fingers on something (She drummed her fingers on the desk while waiting.); drum on something (He drummed on the table with a pencil.)

Similar words: tap, beat

Common phrases: drum your fingers, drum on something, drum against something

To beat quickly and repeatedly, making a low rolling sound.

• Rain drummed on the roof.
• The grouse drummed with its wings.
• Their feet drummed against the wooden floor as they ran.

How to use it: drum on/against something (Rain drummed against the metal roof.)

Similar words: beat, patter

Common phrases: drum with wings, drum on something, drum against something

To repeat information many times so that someone remembers it.

• They drummed the safety rules into us.
• My mother drummed that lesson into my head.
• The coach kept repeating the instructions to drum them in.

How to use it: drum something into someone/someone's head (Our teacher drummed the spelling rules into our heads.); drum something in (He repeated the warning to drum it in.)

Similar words: drill, instil

Common phrases: drum something in, drum into someone, drum into heads