a musical instrument consisting of a hollow body with a stretched skin or synthetic head that makes a sound when struck
The little boy tapped his new drum happily in the living room.
During the parade, the marching band’s drum kept everyone in step.
✦ Old English “drum” or “drumma”, probably imitative of the sound produced.
a large round metal or plastic container used for storing or transporting liquids or bulk materials
An oil drum lay rusting behind the garage.
Workers filled the chemical drum with disinfectant.
✦ Extension of the musical instrument’s shape to any cylindrical vessel, recorded from the 17th century.
to make a steady beating or tapping sound by hitting a surface repeatedly, or to play a drum
Rain drummed on the roof all night long.
He sat at the traffic light and drummed his fingers on the steering wheel.
✦ Verbal use from the noun, recorded since the 16th century.
the cylindrical part of a machine that turns around a central axis, such as in a washing machine or brake system
Lint can build up inside the dryer’s drum.
The washing machine’s drum spins faster during the rinse cycle.
✦ Named for its cylindrical, hollow shape which resembles a musical drum.
to force something to be learned or accepted by repeating it many times
The coach drummed the importance of practice into the team.
Teachers drummed safety rules into the children before the trip.
✦ Figurative extension from the idea of repeatedly striking a drum.
