drumhead
/'drʌmhed/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A membrane stretched tightly over a drum: The material, often made of animal skin or synthetic material, that forms the playing surface of a drum. When struck, it vibrates to produce sound.
- (Anatomy, historical/technical) The eardrum: A less common usage referring to the tympanic membrane.
- (Nautical) A circular top of a capstan: The flat, circular head of a ship's capstan where bars are inserted for turning it.
Adjective:
- Performed speedily and without formality; summary: Describes an action, especially a trial or court-martial, conducted hastily and with minimal procedure.
Usage Examples
Noun:
- The drummer replaced the torn drumhead before the concert.
- In the old anatomy text, the ear's tympanic membrane was labeled as the drumhead.
- The sailors fitted the bars into the drumhead to hoist the anchor.
Adjective:
- The general ordered a drumhead court-martial to deal with the mutiny swiftly.
- They faced drumhead justice, with a verdict reached in mere minutes.
Advanced Usage
- "Drumhead court-martial": A historical term for a military trial conducted in the field, often hastily and with simplified procedures, sometimes literally around a drum used as a table.
- The accused soldier was convicted by a drumhead court-martial at dawn.
Variants and Related Words
- Drum (n): The percussion instrument itself.
- Drumming (n): The act of playing a drum.
- Drummer (n): A person who plays a drum.
- Summary (adj): The core meaning of the adjective form, meaning done without delay or formality.
Synonyms
- Noun (membrane): Drum skin, head.
- Adjective: Summary, expedited, hasty, informal, makeshift.
Related Phrases
- Drumhead service: A religious service, often military, conducted informally in the field.
- The chaplain held a drumhead service for the troops before the battle.
Adjective
- performed speedily and without formality
- a summary execution
- summary justice
Noun
- a membrane that is stretched taut over a drum