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Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
cymbal
noun
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪ As we walked down towards the community centre they all stopped off somewhere to steal some cymbals.
▪ Beside Demeter when the cymbals sound Enthroned sits Dionysus of the flowing hair.
▪ But quickly he began banging his blocks like cymbals and lifting his knees in a proud, parade-master fashion.
▪ Close by the doorway two boys clash cymbals, hard so they hit together squarely, hollow full against cupped hollow.
▪ One beat on an hourglass-shaped drum, while the other clashed large cymbals.
▪ Praise him with the clash of cymbals.
▪ Special effects can be obtained by strokes or rolls on a suspended cymbal, executed with timpani or side-drum sticks.
▪ The use of the triangle and finger cymbals is particularly effective against a backdrop of keyboard.
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Cymbal

Cymbal \Cym"bal\ (s?m"bal). n. [OE. cimbale, simbale, OF. cimbale, F. cymbale, L. cymbalum, fr. Gr. ky`mbalon, fr. ky`mbh, ky`mbos, anything hollow, hollow vessel, basin, akin to Skr. kubha pot. Cf. Chime.]

  1. A musical instrument used by the ancients. It is supposed to have been similar to the modern kettle drum, though perhaps smaller.

  2. A musical instrument of brass, shaped like a circular dish or a flat plate, with a handle at the back; -- used in pairs to produce a sharp ringing sound by clashing them together.

    Note: In orchestras, one cymbal is commonly attached to the bass drum, and the other heid in the drummer's left hand, while his right hand uses the drumstick.

  3. A musical instrument used by gypsies and others, made of steel wire, in a triangular form, on which are movable rings.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
cymbal

from Old English cimbal and from Old French cymbale (13c.), both from Latin cymbalum, from Greek kymbalon "a cymbal," from kymbe "bowl, drinking cup."

Wiktionary
cymbal

n. (context musical instruments English) a concave plate of brass or bronze that produces a sharp, ringing sound when struck: played either in pairs, by striking them together, or singly by striking with a drumstick or the like.

WordNet
cymbal

n. a percussion instrument consisting of a concave brass disk; makes a loud crashing sound when hit with a drumstick or when two are struck together

Wikipedia
Cymbal

A cymbal is a common percussion instrument. Often used in pairs, cymbals consist of thin, normally round plates of various alloys. The majority of cymbals are of indefinite pitch, although small disc-shaped cymbals based on ancient designs sound a definite note (see: crotales). Cymbals are used in many ensembles ranging from the orchestra, percussion ensembles, jazz bands, heavy metal bands, and marching groups. Drum kits usually incorporate at least a crash, ride or crash/ride, and a pair of hi-hat cymbals. A player of cymbals is known as a cymbalist.

Cymbal (disambiguation)

Cymbal and similar can mean:

  • Cymbal, a percussion instrument made of metal disks
  • Cymbalom, a stringed instrument
  • Cymbals (band), a Japanese rock band

Usage examples of "cymbal".

They walked to the measured cadence of the chant and to the drumbeat and the cymbal clash, toward steps that rose out of trailing weed and the encrusting shells of small things that live in shallows.

No sound of drum or horn or cymbal came from the shadowed interior, nor was there any sound of voices.

Bring out the cymbal and drum, set out full pots painted with aloes and sandal-paste: plant plantains, hang on them garlands of flowers, for the Kirtan place joyfully.

He knew several French and English songs, and resolved to try them upon the Japanese, who must be lovers of music, since they were for ever pounding on their cymbals, tam-tams, and tambourines, and could not but appreciate European talent.

Drum and cymbals broke the growling chant with a blow of fierce emphasis, and the voices all together held one long, grinding note that was like the dragging of a boulder over rock.

Some of the monks in the farther ranks still kept at it as the drum boomed and the cymbals clashed, but the monks up front were in confusion.

Tibetan thumb cymbals Allen Ginsberg gave Ratso on the Bob Dylan Tour of 1976.

The only accompaniment came from another man with miniature cymbals made from hollowed nutshells on his thumbs and forefingers.

But whatever her performance lacked in artistry it made up in noise, her drum and cymbals awaking such a din that existence was unbearable within ten feet of them.

Upon the ground in the corner where it had been thrown lay a drum and cymbals fastened to a framework of wire and straps.

First the clash of cymbals and then the cloaked figures, shielded by parasols and borne by slaves, steeped in the erotic aura of mystery.

Priests, not merely of the Thousand Temples but from every Cult, representing every Aspect of God, had clambered from the beaches or wound down from the hills to take their place in the Holy War, singing hymns, clashing cymbals, making the air bitter with incense and the noise of adulation.

Jules grabbed the cymbals and walked them over to where the bandstand was set up, next to the white runner and the floral arrangements.

The finale was a combination of wild shouting, banging of the cymbals, ringing and murmuring.

On the path where the backfield had ambushed him, Frank dragged his muddy cymbals from the bushes, clanking them under his arm.