tambourine
C1Neutral
Definition
Meaning
A shallow drum with metal discs (jingles) set into the rim, played by shaking or striking.
A source of festive or rhythmic sound, often associated with celebration, folk music, or percussive energy. Can be used metaphorically for something that attracts attention noisily.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
It is primarily a hand-held percussion instrument. 'Tambourine' is a hypernym; specific types include 'headless tambourine' (without a skin) and 'timbrel' (an archaic/ biblical term).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in definition or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent.
Connotations
Shared connotations: folk music, gypsy/Romani culture, rock & roll, gospel music, celebration.
Frequency
Similar frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] played the tambourine.[Subject] shook the tambourine vigorously.The song featured a prominent tambourine.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Shake it like a tambourine (informal: dance energetically)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in musicology, ethnomusicology, and historical studies of music.
Everyday
Used when discussing music, instruments, or describing a festive atmosphere.
Technical
Used in music performance, recording (e.g., 'add a tambourine track'), and instrument manufacturing.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She tambourined her fingers impatiently on the desk.
American English
- The dancer tambourined the air with her hands to the rhythm.
adjective
British English
- The band had a distinct tambourine sound.
American English
- The tambourine part was surprisingly complex.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She played the tambourine in music class.
- I could hear the tambourine jingling clearly during the chorus.
- The folk singer shook a tambourine to accompany her ballad.
- The producer suggested a more subdued tambourine part to avoid cluttering the mix.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
TAMBOURINE sounds like 'tambour' (French for drum) with a festive 'jingle' at the end.
Conceptual Metaphor
JOY IS RHYTHMIC SOUND (The tambourine's jingles are the sound of happiness).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'бубен' for the orchestral 'timpani' (литавры). 'Бубен' is generally correct for tambourine.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'tamborine'.
- Confusing with 'bongo' or 'conga' drums.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is most closely associated with the sound of a tambourine?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Rarely. It can be used informally to mean 'to play or shake a tambourine' or metaphorically for tapping fingers.
A tambourine is a specific type of shallow, hand-held drum with jingles. Not all drums (e.g., bass drum, snare drum) have jingles or are hand-held.
Both. Shaking produces a continuous jingle. Hitting the skin (if present) with the palm or knuckles produces a percussive beat along with the jingle.
Not standard. You would use a noun adjunct (e.g., 'tambourine sound', 'tambourine player').