noun

tambourine

tam-buh-REEN

Tambourine (noun) means a small percussion instrument made of a round frame with jingling metal discs set into its rim, played by shaking or striking it. Example: “She shook the tambourine in time with the chorus.”

noun

A small percussion instrument made of a round frame with jingling metal discs set into its rim, played by shaking or striking it.

"She shook the tambourine in time with the chorus."

"The busker kept rhythm with a battered old tambourine."

verb

To play a tambourine, or to make a jingling sound like one.

"He tambourined along as the band played."

How to use tambourine

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA hand-held drum ringed with metal discs that jingle when shaken or tapped.

Common pairings

shake a tambourine play the tambourine

Word forms

tambourined past tense, tambourines plural, tambourines singular

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She shook the _____ in time with the chorus.

Etymology

From French tambourin ("little drum"), from tambour ("drum"), which traces back to Arabic and Persian words for a drum.

Origin: French

Rhymes for tambourine

nine mine wine line sine dine fine vine pine tine thine shine

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Frequently asked questions

What does “tambourine” mean?

The word “tambourine” means a small percussion instrument made of a round frame with jingling metal discs set into its rim, played by shaking or striking it. In plain terms, a hand-held drum ringed with metal discs that jingle when shaken or tapped.

How do you pronounce “tambourine”?

“Tambourine” is pronounced tam-buh-REEN (/ˌtæm.bəˈɹiːn/ in IPA).

How do you use “tambourine” in a sentence?

Here is “tambourine” used in a sentence: “She shook the tambourine in time with the chorus.”

What part of speech is “tambourine”?

Depending on how it is used, “tambourine” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “tambourine” come from?

The word “tambourine” comes from French. From French tambourin ("little drum"), from tambour ("drum"), which traces back to Arabic and Persian words for a drum.

How many meanings does “tambourine” have?

“Tambourine” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small percussion instrument made of a round frame with jingling metal discs set into its rim, played by shaking or striking it.