As a Noun: 1. A musical instrument consisting of a skin stretched tightly over a round frame. You play it by beating it rhythmically with your hands. English = drum, tom-tom drum. 2. A person who plays a drum. English = drummer. As a Verb or Adjective: 1. To play a drum with your hands, to beat a drum with your hands, to play a tom-tom drum. English = drum.