a musical percussion instrument; usually consists of a hollow cylinder with a membrane stretched across each end
"The drummer tapped his stick against the rim of the drum to create a sharp, rhythmic beat."
a cylindrical metal container used for shipping or storage of liquids
"The delivery driver asked us to sign for three new barrels of motor oil before he rolled them into our garage."
a hollow cast iron cylinder attached to the wheel that forms part of the brakes
"The mechanic replaced the worn drum on his truck's rear wheels after noticing the brakes felt spongy."
A percussive musical instrument spanned with a thin covering on at least one end for striking, forming an acoustic chamber; a membranophone.
"We had to cut up the whole chicken, including the large drum at the end of each leg, before roasting it."
A small hill or ridge of hills.
A social gathering or assembly held in the evening.
A drumstick (of chicken, turkey, etc).
In plain English: A drum is a musical instrument that you hit with sticks to make a loud, rhythmic sound.
"The children played with an old drum found in the attic."
Usage: Use "drum" to refer to a large bird part, specifically the thigh meat of poultry like chicken or turkey. Do not use this term for percussion instruments, which are also called drums but require different context.
play a percussion instrument
"The band leader nodded for everyone to start drumming on their own rhythm sections."
To beat a drum.
"The marching band leader signaled for everyone to start beating their drums in unison."
In plain English: To drum is to hit something repeatedly with your hands or an instrument to make a rhythm.
"The children loved to drum on pots and pans during playtime."
Usage: Use "drum" as a verb to describe beating a drum rhythmically, such as when a musician performs or someone taps out a beat on an instrument. Do not use it to mean striking a surface with a fist unless you are specifically imitating the sound of a drum being hit.
A surname.
"My neighbor Mr. Drum told me he'd be late for the meeting because his car broke down."
The word drum likely originated as a back-formation from the older term drumslade, meaning "drummer," which itself came from Middle Dutch words for "drum" and "beat." Alternatively, it may have been borrowed directly from continental Germanic languages where similar terms existed.