Definition of drum

• n. - An instrument of percussion, consisting either of a hollow cylinder, over each end of which is stretched a piece of skin or vellum, to be beaten with a stick; or of a metallic hemisphere (kettledrum) with a single piece of skin to be so beaten; the common instrument for marking time in martial music; one of the pair of tympani in an orchestra, or cavalry band.
• n. - Anything resembling a drum in form
• n. - A sheet iron radiator, often in the shape of a drum, for warming an apartment by means of heat received from a stovepipe, or a cylindrical receiver for steam, etc.
• n. - A small cylindrical box in which figs, etc., are packed.
• n. - The tympanum of the ear; -- often, but incorrectly, applied to the tympanic membrane.
• n. - One of the cylindrical, or nearly cylindrical, blocks, of which the shaft of a column is composed; also, a vertical wall, whether circular or polygonal in plan, carrying a cupola or dome.
• n. - A cylinder on a revolving shaft, generally for the purpose of driving several pulleys, by means of belts or straps passing around its periphery; also, the barrel of a hoisting machine, on which the rope or chain is wound.
• n. - See Drumfish.
• n. - A noisy, tumultuous assembly of fashionable people at a private house; a rout.
• n. - A tea party; a kettledrum.
• v. i. - To beat a drum with sticks; to beat or play a tune on a drum.
• v. i. - To beat with the fingers, as with drumsticks; to beat with a rapid succession of strokes; to make a noise like that of a beaten drum; as, the ruffed grouse drums with his wings.
• v. i. - To throb, as the heart.
• v. i. - To go about, as a drummer does, to gather recruits, to draw or secure partisans, customers, etc,; -- with for.
• v. t. - To execute on a drum, as a tune.
• v. t. - (With out) To expel ignominiously, with beat of drum; as, to drum out a deserter or rogue from a camp, etc.
• v. t. - (With up) To assemble by, or as by, beat of drum; to collect; to gather or draw by solicitation; as, to drum up recruits; to drum up customers.