percussion

/pəˈkʌʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /pərˈkʌʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /pər-ˈkə-shən/ (ame, mw)

percussion — noun

1. the family of instruments that make sound when you hit or shake them, like drums

1.名詞B2
釋義

the family of instruments that make sound when you hit or shake them, like drums or cymbals

例句

Maya studies percussion and practices the snare drum after school.

pattern: study percussion

In music class, the children tried percussion before choosing other instruments.

同義詞
  • percussion instruments

    the fullest and most explicit phrase for this instrument family

  • drums

    more everyday, but narrower because it often excludes cymbals, triangles, and similar instruments

  • rhythm instruments

    common in school music, especially when the focus is keeping time

文法句型

study percussion

play percussion

percussion for beginners

用法筆記

Often used without an article when you mean this class of instruments or the musical part a student studies. Distinguish from drum, which usually names one instrument, not the whole family.

常見錯誤

❌I play a percussion in the school band.
✅I play percussion in the school band.
💡This sense is uncountable when you mean the instrument family or your musical role.

2. the musicians in an orchestra or similar group who play drums and other hit inst

2.名詞C1
釋義

the musicians in an orchestra or similar group who play drums and other hit instruments, or the unit they form

例句

During the march, the percussion kept a steady beat behind the brass.

the percussion + singular verb

At rehearsal, the percussion came in two bars too early.

同義詞
  • percussion section

    the most explicit phrase for this group inside an ensemble

  • drummers

    more everyday, but narrower because not every player in the section plays only drums

  • rhythm section

    broader in pop or jazz because it may also include bass or keyboard players

文法句型

the percussion kept the beat

ask the percussion to play softly

the percussion in the orchestra

用法筆記

Usually appears as the percussion and refers to the section as one unit, though it can also point to the people in that section. Distinguish from noun/1, which names the instrument family in general rather than the group performing it.

常見錯誤

❌She joined percussion of the youth orchestra last term.
✅She joined the percussion of the youth orchestra last term.
💡This sense usually takes the definite article when you mean the section.