percussion
noun
per·cus·sion
pər-ˈkə-shən 
1
: the act of percussing: such as
a
: the striking of a percussion cap so as to set off the charge in a firearm
b
: the beating or striking of a musical instrument
c
: the act or technique of tapping the surface of a body part to learn the condition of the parts beneath by the resultant sound
2
: the striking of sound on the ear
3
: percussion instruments that form a section of a band or orchestra
percussion
adjective
Examples of percussion in a Sentence
He plays percussion for the band.
The marimba is a percussion instrument.
Recent Examples on the Web
In the early 2000s, minimalism was coming into vogue in electronic circles, and Björk worked with collaborators like the experimental duo Matmos to create percussion sounds out of commonplace objects on Vespertine.
—
Al Shipley, SPIN, 22 Jan. 2025
Born out of ’70s calypso in Trinidad and Tobago, soca music is characterized by its fast-paced, high-energy rhythms sourced from the traditional Indian percussion and rhythms that recording artist Lord Shorty (later Ras Shorty I) added to calypso.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 13 Jan. 2025
Bill Murray plays backup percussions in performance with the band Bill Murray and His Blood Brothers at Thalia Hall on Jan. 3, 2025, in Chicago.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2025
The weight of the past bears down on László in the handheld jostling of the camera, in the ticking-time-bomb percussion of Daniel Blumberg’s score, and, most of all, in the sombre, disembodied voice of László’s wife, Erzsébet (Felicity Jones), from whom he was cruelly separated.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for percussion 
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Al Shipley, SPIN, 22 Jan. 2025
Born out of ’70s calypso in Trinidad and Tobago, soca music is characterized by its fast-paced, high-energy rhythms sourced from the traditional Indian percussion and rhythms that recording artist Lord Shorty (later Ras Shorty I) added to calypso.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 13 Jan. 2025
Bill Murray plays backup percussions in performance with the band Bill Murray and His Blood Brothers at Thalia Hall on Jan. 3, 2025, in Chicago.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2025
The weight of the past bears down on László in the handheld jostling of the camera, in the ticking-time-bomb percussion of Daniel Blumberg’s score, and, most of all, in the sombre, disembodied voice of László’s wife, Erzsébet (Felicity Jones), from whom he was cruelly separated.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for percussion
Dictionary Entries Near percussion
Cite this Entry
“Percussion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/percussion. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
percussion
noun
per·cus·sion
pər-ˈkəsh-ən
1
: the act of tapping sharply
especially
: the striking of a percussion cap so as to set off the charge in a firearm
2
: the striking of sound sharply on the ear
Medical Definition
percussion
noun
per·cus·sion
pər-ˈkəsh-ən
1
: the act or technique of tapping the surface of a body part to learn the condition of the parts beneath by the resulting sound
2
: massage consisting of the striking of a body part with light rapid blows
called also tapotement
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