percussion
Percussion (noun) means Musical instruments played by striking, shaking, or scraping, such as drums and cymbals. Example: “The percussion section kept the beat steady throughout the piece.”
How to use percussion
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAnything to do with hitting or striking — most commonly, drums and similar instruments in music.
Word forms
percussions plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ section kept the beat steady throughout the piece.
Etymology
From Latin percussio, "a striking", from percutere, "to strike through" (per- + quatere, "to shake").
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for percussion
Frequently asked questions
What does “percussion” mean?
The word “percussion” means musical instruments played by striking, shaking, or scraping, such as drums and cymbals. In plain terms, anything to do with hitting or striking — most commonly, drums and similar instruments in music.
How do you pronounce “percussion”?
“Percussion” is pronounced p-KUH-shuhn (/pɚˈkʌʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “percussion” in a sentence?
Here is “percussion” used in a sentence: “The percussion section kept the beat steady throughout the piece.”
What part of speech is “percussion”?
“Percussion” is a noun.
Where does the word “percussion” come from?
The word “percussion” comes from Latin. From Latin percussio, "a striking", from percutere, "to strike through" (per- + quatere, "to shake").
Is “percussion” a common word?
“Percussion” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “percussion” have?
“Percussion” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: musical instruments played by striking, shaking, or scraping, such as drums and cymbals.