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Definition of percussion noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

percussion

noun
 
/pəˈkʌʃn/
 
/pərˈkʌʃn/
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  1. [uncountable] musical instruments that you play by hitting them with your hand or with a stick, for example drums
    • percussion instruments
    • on percussion The track features Joey Langton on percussion.
    Topics Musicc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • tuned
    • untuned
    • live
    • …
    percussion + noun
    • instrument
    • player
    • section
    • …
    See full entry
  2. the percussion
     [singular]
    (also percussion section [countable])
    the players of percussion instruments in an orchestra compare brass, string, woodwind
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • tuned
    • untuned
    • live
    • …
    percussion + noun
    • instrument
    • player
    • section
    • …
    See full entry
    3. Word Originlate Middle English: from Latin percussio(n-), from the verb percutere ‘to strike forcibly’, from per- ‘through’ + quatere ‘to shake, strike’.
See percussion in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
Check pronunciation: percussion

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