Illustration of kettledrum
kettledrum
noun
ket·tle·drum
ˈke-təl-ˌdrəm 
: a percussion instrument that consists of a hollow brass, copper, or fiberglass hemisphere with a calfskin or plastic head whose tension can be changed to vary the pitch
Examples of kettledrum in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
With membrane and magnet in place over the cup, the finished device is like a tiny kettledrum: Thump on it, and the drumhead vibrates.
—
IEEE Spectrum, 28 Mar. 2024
The tape-staticky gourd rattle and kettledrum boom.
—Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2018
The women hammered kettledrums and struck a gong suspended from a pagoda.
—Julie Lasky, New York Times, 4 July 2017
IEEE Spectrum, 28 Mar. 2024
The tape-staticky gourd rattle and kettledrum boom.
—Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2018
The women hammered kettledrums and struck a gong suspended from a pagoda.
—Julie Lasky, New York Times, 4 July 2017
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'kettledrum.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near kettledrum
Cite this Entry
“Kettledrum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kettledrum. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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kettledrum
noun
ket·tle·drum
-ˌdrəm
: a large brass or copper drum that has a rounded bottom and can be varied in pitch
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