tympan

/'timpən/

Thân thiện

The drummer strikes the tympan with a soft mallet.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A musical percussion instrument; usually consists of a hollow cylinder with a membrane stretched across each end: A "tympan" is a type of drum, typically characterized by a cylindrical body with a drumhead (a membrane) covering one or both ends.
   • (Anatomy, historical/technical) The eardrum: In anatomical contexts, "tympan" is an archaic or technical term for the tympanic membrane, the thin tissue separating the outer ear from the middle ear.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Musical Instrument):
  • The ancient ritual featured the steady beat of a tympan.
  • He studied the construction of various tympans from different cultures.
• Noun (Anatomy):
  • The physician examined the patient's tympan for signs of infection. (This usage is now rare; "eardrum" or "tympanic membrane" is standard.)

Advanced Usage

• "Tympan" in Printing (Historical): In historical printing, a "tympan" was a frame covered with parchment or cloth on which the sheet of paper was placed before being pressed against the inked type. This meaning is now obsolete.
  • The printer carefully adjusted the tympan before making the impression.

Variants and Related Words

• Tympani (noun): A variant plural form of "tympani," which is itself a variant of "timpani" (kettledrums). Note: "Timpani" is the more common modern spelling for the orchestral kettledrums.
• Tympanic (adjective): Relating to or resembling a drum or the eardrum.
  • The tympanic membrane is vital for hearing.
• Tympany (noun): A resonant, drum-like sound heard when percussing a hollow body part; also can mean pretentious, inflated style or language.

Synonyms

• Drum: A general term for a percussion instrument with a membrane.
• Eardrum (for the anatomical sense): The common modern term.
• Tympanic membrane (for the anatomical sense): The formal medical term.

Related Phrases

(Note: "Tympan" itself is not commonly used in phrasal verbs or idioms.)

Related Idioms

(Note: There are no common idioms using the word "tympan.")

Học thuật

Noun

1. a musical percussion instrument; usually consists of a hollow cylinder with a membrane stretched across each end

Từ đồng nghĩa

• drum
• membranophone