Adjacent Words

snare drum definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a small drum with two heads and a snare stretched across the lower head [syn: snare drum, snare, side drum]

Merriam Webster's

noun Date: circa 1859 a small double-headed drum with one or more snares stretched across its lower head — see drum illustration

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Snare Snare, n. [AS. sneara cord, a string; akin to D. snoer, G. schnur, OHG. snour a cord, snarahha a noose, Dan. snare, Sw. & Icel. snara, Goth. sn?rj? a basket; and probably also to E. needle. See Needle, and cf. Snarl to entangle.] 1. A contrivance, often consisting of a noose of cord, or the like, by which a bird or other animal may be entangled and caught; a trap; a gin. 2. Hence, anything by which one is entangled and brought into trouble. If thou retire, the Dauphin, well appointed, Stands with the snares of war to tangle thee. --Shak. 3. The gut or string stretched across the lower head of a drum. 4. (Med.) An instrument, consisting usually of a wireloop or noose, for removing tumors, etc., by avulsion. Snare drum, the smaller common military drum, as distinguished from the bass drum; -- so called because (in order to render it more resonant) it has stretched across its lower head a catgut string or strings.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(snare drums) A snare drum is a small drum used in orchestras and bands. Snare drums are usually played with wooden sticks, and make a continuous sound. N-COUNT