LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · neutersecond declension

tympanum

tympanum n (genitive tympanī)
Classical[ˈtym.pa.nũː]Ecclesiastical[ˈtim.pa.num]

Meaning

  1. literallyneuterdrum, timbrel, tambour, tambourine
  2. figurativelyliterallyneutertimbrel as a figure of something effeminate or enervating
  3. neuterdrum or wheel in machines for raising weights, in water organs, etc.
  4. neutertriangular area of a pediment
  5. neuterpanel of a door
  6. neuterpart of the clepsydra
  7. neutereardrum

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativetympanum
typanum		tympana
typana
genitivetympanī
typanī		tympanōrum
typanōrum
dativetympanō
typanō		tympanīs
typanīs
accusativetympanum
typanum		tympana
typana
ablativetympanō
typanō		tympanīs
typanīs
vocativetympanum
typanum		tympana
typana

tympănum, i (collat. form tўpă-num, Cat. 63, 8 sq.), n., = τύμπανον,
I. a drum, timbrel, tambour, tambourine.
I. Lit.
A. Esp., as beaten by the priests of Cybele, Lucr. 2, 618; Cat. 63, 8 sq.; Verg. A. 9, 619; Ov. M. 3, 537; 4, 29; 4, 391; id. F. 4, 213; Plaut. Poen. 5, 5, 38; Caes. B. C. 3, 105; Curt. 8, 11, 20; 8, 14, 10; Tac. H. 5, 5, —Also by the Bacchantine females, Ov. M. 11, 17.—Beaten by the Parthians as a signal in battle in place of the tuba, Just. 41, 2, 8.—
B. Trop., a timbrel, etc., as a figure of something effeminate, enervating: tympana eloquentiae, Quint. 5, 12, 21: in manu tympanum est, Sen. Vit. Beat. 13, 3.—
II. Transf., of things of a like shape.
A. A drum or wheel, in machines for raising weights, in water-organs, etc., Lucr. 4, 905; Verg. G. 2, 444; Vitr. 10, 4; Plin. 18, 34, 77, § 332; Dig. 19, 2, 19.—
B. In archit.
1. The triangular area of a pediment, Vitr. 3, 3 med.—
2. A panel of a door, Vitr. 4, 6 med.—
3. A part of the clepsydra, called also phellos, Vitr. 9, 9.

Origins

Borrowed from Ancient Greek τῠ́μπᾰνον (tŭ́mpănon, “a kettledrum, drum”), from τῠ́πτω (tŭ́ptō, “to strike, beat, smite”).

Descendants
  • Catalantimpà
  • Englishtympanum
  • Englishtimpani
  • Frenchtympan
  • Italiantimpano
  • Italiantempano
  • Italiantempono
  • Portuguesetímpano
  • Romaniantâmpină
  • Romaniantîmpină

In English words that came into English from tympanum

  • tympanumtympanum
  • timpanitympanum
  • timbreltympanum

In the Academy Smith's classical dictionaries

AntiquitiesTympanumTympanum (τύμπανον). 1. A small drum carried in the hand. Of these, some resembled in all respects a modern tambourine with bells. Others presented a …

Quick answers

What does tympanum mean in Latin?
tympanum, a noun, means “drum, timbrel, tambour, tambourine; eardrum”.
What is the genitive of tympanum?
The genitive singular is tympanī. tympanum is neuter, second declension.
How do you pronounce tympanum?
In classical Latin, [ˈtym.pa.nũː]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈtim.pa.num].
Which English words come from tympanum?
English words that go back to Latin tympanum include tympanum, timpani and timbrel.