tambourine

noun

tam·​bou·​rine ˌtam-bə-ˈrēn 

: a small drum

especially : a shallow one-headed drum with loose metallic disks at the sides played especially by shaking or striking with the hand

Illustration of tambourine

Examples of tambourine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Pretty soon, they were joined by supporters with tambourines and flags, men in lucha libre masks, women in scarves and fans from San Diego, Tijuana and beyond wearing chrome, azul, orange, yellow and red. —Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2025

His signature commanding, grainy voice melds masterfully with the guitar, tambourine and steady percussion underpinning the song’s story of a drifter making his home on the highways and in every town. —Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 3 Feb. 2025

The other musicians were Eric Gale (guitars), Ron Carter (bass), Grady Tate (drums); and Ralph MacDonald (congas, percussion, tambourine). —Paul Grein, Billboard, 26 Feb. 2025

During the team’s 2023 Super Bowl win, King and his friends also introduced a red-and-yellow tambourine. —Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 24 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle French tambourin, diminutive of tambour

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tambourine

• acrolein
• adenine
• alkylene
• aniline
• anthracene
• aquiline
• asphaltene
• atlantean
• atrazine
• butadiene
• butylene
• caesarean

Kids Definition

tambourine

noun

tam·​bou·​rine ˌtam-bə-ˈrēn 

: a shallow drum with one head and loose metal disks at the sides that is played by shaking or striking with the hand