Drum /(?)/

1. 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. (Mus.)

   The drums cry bud-a-dub.

2. Anything resembling a drum in form (Anat.)
3. See Drumfish. (Zool.)
4. A noisy, tumultuous assembly of fashionable people at a private house; a rout. [Archaic]

   Not unaptly styled a drum, from the noise and emptiness of the entertainment.

5. A tea party; a kettledrum.

imp. & p. p. Drummed; p. pr. & vb. n. Drumming

1. To beat a drum with sticks; to beat or play a tune on a drum.
2. 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.

   Drumming with his fingers on the arm of his chair.

3. To throb, as the heart. [R.]
4. To go about, as a drummer does, to gather recruits, to draw or secure partisans, customers, etc,; -- with for.

1. To execute on a drum, as a tune.
2. (With out) To expel ignominiously, with beat of drum; as, to drum out a deserter or rogue from a camp, etc.
3. (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.