👂 Eardrum area 🥁 A large drum

tympanum

9.9

A large round drum made of metal with a skin you can tighten to change the sound

noun
/ˈtɪmpənəm/

Archaic

: tímpano

In the music room, I learned how to play the tympanum, which is known for its deep, mellow tones.

The term pahu refers to the whole genre of tympanum drums that have a skin to them.

Examples

The orchestra included a tympanum that added a rich, resonant sound to the performance.
The term pahu refers to the whole genre of tympanum drums that have a skin to them.

The British Museum
During the concert, the exciting rhythms from the tympanum captivated the audience.

Synonyms

timpani

vstympanum

4 7.9

Large round drums used in an orchestra that you can tune to different notes

means one instrument rather than the whole set

kettle

vstympanum

3 8.6

A large metal drum with a tight skin that you can tune and orchestras play

is the identical instrument but uses a different common name

kettledrum

vstympanum

1 6.0

A large round drum in an orchestra you tune to play a clear note

is the same instrument but not focused on orchestra mention

tympani

vstympanum

1 8.4

A large bowl-shaped drum played with mallets

is the same instrument but expressed in the other naming form

timpano

vstympanum

9.7

A single large drum with a bowl shape used in orchestras

is the general name for the instrument rather than its singular form

tympan

vstympanum

Specialized

9.9

A hollow drum with a tight skin over both ends that you play by hitting

is bowl-shaped and tuned rather than cylindrical untuned form

tympany

vstympanum

Archaic

9.9

A drum-like instrument played to make rhythm

is the modern specific tuned hemispherical instrument, not general old term

How Big

bass drum

Specialized

5 3.0

tympanum

Archaic

9.9

tom-tom

2 8.1

snare drum

3 3.5

tambourine

21 3.4

Surface Forms

tympanum singular

tympana plural

Etymology

Tympanum comes from the Greek word tympanon, which means 'drum'. The word was used for a large, tuned drum (the kettledrum, also called timpani), so tympanum refers to that big, round drum in an orchestra.