drums

drums — noun

1. A hollow round frame with a tight plastic or animal-skin surface stretched acros

1.名詞B1
釋義

A hollow round frame with a tight plastic or animal-skin surface stretched across one end. You hit the surface with sticks or your hands to make a rhythmic sound. The word 'drums' often refers to a complete set of these instruments — including cymbals and a bass drum — arranged for one player to use together.

例句

Theo has been playing the drums in a rock band since he was fourteen years old.

collocation: play the drums

The school music room has a new set of drums that students can use during lessons.

同義詞
  • drum kit

    the complete collection of drums and cymbals used by one player

  • percussion

    a broader category that includes drums along with other struck instruments like tambourines and xylophones

文法句型

play + the drums

drums + verb (plural)

用法筆記

The plural 'drums' is the usual word for a drum kit as a complete instrument. To refer to one individual drum, use the singular form — for example, 'a snare drum' or 'a bass drum'.

常見錯誤

❌I play drum in a band.
✅I play the drums in a band.
💡When referring to the instrument as a set, use 'the drums' (plural) with a definite article.
❌She bought a new drum.
✅She bought a new set of drums.
💡Unless referring to a single drum instrument, use 'a set of drums' or 'a drum kit' for the whole collection.

2. A large round container shaped like a tube, usually made of metal or strong plas

2.名詞B2
釋義

A large round container shaped like a tube, usually made of metal or strong plastic, used for holding and transporting liquids such as oil, chemicals, or food ingredients.

例句

The factory stores cooking oil in big metal drums near the loading area.

collocation: metal drums

Two empty drums of paint were left outside the warehouse after the job was finished.

pattern: drums of [substance]

同義詞
  • barrel

    very similar in shape and use; 'barrel' is more common for beer and wine

  • canister

    usually smaller and often used for dry goods like flour or coffee

文法句型

oil + drums

drum + of + [substance]

常見錯誤

❌The oil is kept in a drum of metal.
✅The oil is kept in a metal drum.
💡When the material comes before 'drum', use it as an adjective, not a prepositional phrase.

3. The metal cylinder inside a washing machine that turns around to move the clothe

3.名詞B2
釋義

The metal cylinder inside a washing machine that turns around to move the clothes through water and detergent during a wash cycle.

例句

The drum of the washing machine spins very fast to remove water from the clothes.

collocation: drum + spins

Nora left the door of the washing machine open so the drum could dry out.

同義詞
  • cylinder

    a more general technical term; 'drum' is the everyday word for the washing machine part

文法句型

washing machine + drum

常見錯誤

❌Put the clothes in the washing drum.
✅Put the clothes in the washing machine drum.
💡'Washing drum' without 'machine' sounds odd to native speakers.

4. The deep, low sound that a drum makes when someone hits it, or a sound that remi

4.名詞B1
釋義

The deep, low sound that a drum makes when someone hits it, or a sound that reminds you of this.

例句

From far away, they could hear the steady drums of the festival parade approaching.

The drums grew louder as the marching band came closer to the town square.

pattern: drums + grew louder

同義詞
  • thud

    a dull heavy sound, but not necessarily musical or rhythmic

  • beat

    a repeated rhythmic pattern, which can come from a drum or another source

文法句型

sound/beat + of drums

drums + verb (sound)

用法筆記

This sense also works as a metaphor for any steady, deep rhythmic sound — for example, 'the drum of rain on the roof' or 'the drum of hoofbeats'.

drums — verb