noun
Uncommon
percussion
p-KUH-shuhn
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.”
noun
1
Musical instruments played by striking, shaking, or scraping, such as drums and cymbals.
"The percussion section kept the beat steady throughout the piece."
2
The act of one object striking another, especially to produce sound.
"The percussion of hailstones on the roof kept them awake."
3
A medical technique of tapping on the body to help diagnose a condition.
"The doctor used percussion on his chest to check for fluid in the lungs."
How to use percussion
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAnything to do with hitting or striking — most commonly, drums and similar instruments in music.
Common pairings
percussion instrument
percussion section
drums and percussion
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like percussion.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- percussions
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
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all 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.
