noun · verb · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
/ˌtæm.bəˈɹiːn/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:T AE2 M B ER0 IY1 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A percussion instrument consisting of a small, usually wooden, hoop closed on one side with a drum frame and featuring jingling metal disks on the tread; it is most often held in the hand and shaken rhythmically; by extension, any frame drum.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A tambourine dove (Turtur tympanistria).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A kind of Provençal dance.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
The music for this dance.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
To play the tambourine.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
verb
Meaning 6
To make a sound like a tambourine.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
a shallow drum with a single drumhead and with metallic disks in the sides
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: drum, membranophone, tympan
History
Etymology
From French tambourin (“little drum”), from French tambour (“drum”). Ultimately from Arabic طُنْبُور (ṭunbūr); see it and Persian تنبور for more.
Across languages
Translations
63 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
دَفّ
(daff)
— percussion instrument
Armenian:
դահիրա
(dahira)
— percussion instrument
Armenian:
դափ
(dapʻ)
— percussion instrument
Bhojpuri:
डफला
(ḍaphəlā)
— percussion instrument
Bulgarian:
дайре
(dajre)
— percussion instrument
Catalan:
pandereta
— percussion instrument
Chinese Cantonese:
鈴鼓 /铃鼓
(ling4 gu2)
— percussion instrument
Chinese Mandarin:
鈴鼓 /铃鼓
(línggǔ)
— percussion instrument
