Standard Lemma guide

tombak

noun · 3 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

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A type of goblet drum used heavily in Persian music.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: zarb

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A brass alloy also known as red-bronze, usually containing 82-99% copper and the rest usually zinc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: Dutch brass, German brass

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

an alloy of copper and zinc (and sometimes arsenic) used to imitate gold in cheap jewelry and for gilding

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: tombac, tambac

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: alloy, metal

History

Etymology

Borrowed from Persian تنبک (tonbak). Doublet of dumbek.

From Dutch, from Malay tembaga (“copper”), from Sanskrit ताम्र (tāmra). Entered Dutch usage during colonial period. Doublet of tumbaga.

Across languages

Translations

29 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Danish: tombak — type of goblet drum
  • Finnish: darbuka — type of goblet drum
  • French: tombak — type of goblet drum
  • German: Tombak — type of goblet drum
  • Ido: tombako — type of goblet drum
  • Italian: darabouka — type of goblet drum
  • Persian: تنبک (tonbak) — type of goblet drum
  • Portuguese: darabuca — type of goblet drum
  • Portuguese: darbuca — type of goblet drum
  • Russian: томпа́к (tompák) — type of goblet drum
  • Swedish: tombak — type of goblet drum
  • Tajik: тунбак (tunbak) — type of goblet drum
  • Turkish: darbuka — type of goblet drum
  • Armenian: տոմպակ (tompak) — brass with zinc content below 28%
  • Armenian: պղնձացինկ (pġnjacʻink) — brass with zinc content below 28%
  • Danish: tombak — brass with zinc content below 28%
  • Finnish: tompakki — brass with zinc content below 28%
  • French: tombac — brass with zinc content below 28%
  • German: Tombak — brass with zinc content below 28%
  • Ido: tombako — brass with zinc content below 28%
  • Italian: tombacco — brass with zinc content below 28%
  • Italian: similoro — brass with zinc content below 28%
  • Malay: tembaga — brass with zinc content below 28%
  • Portuguese: tambaque — brass with zinc content below 28%
  • Portuguese: tambaca — brass with zinc content below 28%
  • Russian: томпа́к (tompák) — brass with zinc content below 28%
  • Swedish: tombak — brass with zinc content below 28%
  • Turkish: tombak — brass with zinc content below 28%
  • Yiddish: טאָמבאַק (tombak) — brass with zinc content below 28%