noun
cymbal
SIHM-buhl
noun
1
A round, flat metal plate that produces a sharp ringing crash when struck, used in drum kits and orchestras.
"The drummer hit the cymbal hard to mark the end of the song."
"A pair of cymbals clashed together during the finale."
How to Use Cymbal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA metal percussion instrument that makes a loud crashing or shimmering sound when struck.
Common mistake
Don't confuse "cymbal" (the musical instrument) with "symbol" (a sign that represents something) — they sound identical but are spelled and mean completely different things.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
crash cymbal
hi-hat cymbal
strike a cymbal
Word Forms
cymbals plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “cymbal”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The drummer hit the _____ hard to mark the end of the song.
Etymology
From Latin cymbalum, from Ancient Greek kumbalon, from kumbe ("bowl") — describing its curved, bowl-like shape.