percussion

[per-kuhsh-uh n] /pərˈkʌʃ ən/
noun
1.
the striking of one body against another with some sharpness; impact; blow.
2.
Medicine/Medical. the striking or tapping of the surface of a part of the body for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.
3.
the striking of a musical instrument to produce tones.
4.
Music.
  1. the section of an orchestra or band comprising the percussion instruments.
  2. the percussion instruments themselves.
5.
a sharp blow for detonating a percussion cap or the fuze of an artillery shell.
6.
the striking of sound on the ear.
7.
the act of percussing.
Origin
1535-45; < Latin percussiōn- (stem of percussiō) a beating. See percuss, -ion
Related forms
percussional, adjective
Examples from the web for percussion
  • Brown decided to string together songs and percussion so that the dance beat never stopped.
  • In the background is the incongruous yet constant beat of a percussion section on the building's roof.
  • And the vinyl's grooves poured out soulful singers, playful highlife guitarists, and tasty local percussion.
  • Rhythmic percussion and dance probably are earlier examples of social bonding than language.
  • It is played with some regularity by more ambitious percussion ensembles, and several recordings of it are available.
  • It leads a triple life, at once a harmony instrument, a melody instrument and a percussion instrument.
  • Sudden bursts of percussion explode within calmer textures.
  • He taught music theory and electronic music and wrote for orchestras and small ensembles, including percussion quartets.
  • It builds an exciting catchy, danceable sound around two trombones and percussion.
  • It called for mechanically synchronizing sixteen player pianos, as well as xylophones and percussion.
British Dictionary definitions for percussion

percussion

/pəˈkʌʃən/
noun
1.
the act, an instance, or an effect of percussing
2.
(music) the family of instruments in which sound arises from the striking of materials with sticks, hammers, or the hands
3.
(music)
  1. instruments of this family constituting a section of an orchestra, band, etc
  2. (as modifier): a percussion ensemble
4.
(med) the act of percussing a body surface
5.
the act of exploding a percussion cap
Word Origin
C16: from Latin percussiō, from percutere to hit; see percuss
Word Origin and History for percussion
n.

early 15c., "a striking, a blow; internal injury, contusion," from Latin percussionem (nominative percussio) "a beating, striking; a beat as a measure of time," noun of action from past participle stem of percutere "to strike hard, beat, smite; strike through and through," from per- "through" (see per) + quatere "to strike, shake" (see quash). Reference to musical instruments is first recorded 1776.

percussion in Medicine

percussion per·cus·sion (pər-kŭsh'ən)
n.
A method of medical diagnosis in which various areas of the body, especially the chest, back, and abdomen, are tapped with the finger or a plexor to determine by resonance the condition of internal organs.

percussion in Culture

percussion definition


A family of musical instruments played by striking their surfaces. Percussion instruments are used to accentuate and dramatize certain notes or rhythms and include instruments such as cymbals, drums, triangles, and xylophones. (See kettledrum, snare drum, and orchestra.)

Encyclopedia Article for percussion

in medicine, diagnostic procedure that entails striking the body directly or indirectly with short, sharp taps of a finger or, rarely, a hammer. The procedure was first described in 1761 by the Austrian physician Leopold Auenbrugger von Auenbrugg. Although generally ignored by his contemporaries, it is now routinely employed. The sounds produced by the procedure are helpful in determining the size and position of various internal organs, in revealing the presence of fluid or air in the chest, and in aiding in the diagnosis of certain lung disorders.

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