Illustration of tympanum
- 1 tympanum 2a
tympanum
noun
tym·pa·num
ˈtim-pə-nəm 
plural tympana
ˈtim-pə-nə
also tympanums
also tympanums
1
a(1)
(2)
b
: a thin tense membrane covering an organ of hearing of an insect see insect illustration
c
: a membranous resonator in a sound-producing organ
2
a
: the recessed usually triangular face of a pediment within the frame made by the upper and lower cornices
b
: the space within an arch and above a lintel or a subordinate arch
Examples of tympanum in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Though the original statues are gone from the Renwick Gallery, its exterior tympanum features one distinctive relic of the building’s past: a round medallion with a bronze relief profile portrait of William Corcoran.
—
Samantha Baskind, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 May 2025
That Any Traveler Will Appreciate By Paris Wilson A tympanum decorating the gate at St Anne’s Cathedral.
—Timothy O'Grady, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 July 2024
The insect ear possesses a thin sheet of tissue, known as the tympanum, that is much like the human eardrum.
—IEEE Spectrum, 22 May 2023
Although an insect’s tympanum is typically a millimeter or so wide, insects are capable of feats of hearing that currently require devices much larger in size.
—IEEE Spectrum, 22 May 2023
This was topped by a tympanum containing a pedimental scene of metallurgists, farmers and muses.
—James Verini, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2022
This is the tympanum, or more evocatively, the eardrum.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 15 Nov. 2012
Over the door is a stone tympanum adorned with the image of an open book, hinting at the building’s former life.
—Mike Scott, NOLA.com, 12 Aug. 2020
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Samantha Baskind, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 May 2025
That Any Traveler Will Appreciate By Paris Wilson A tympanum decorating the gate at St Anne’s Cathedral.
—Timothy O'Grady, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 July 2024
The insect ear possesses a thin sheet of tissue, known as the tympanum, that is much like the human eardrum.
—IEEE Spectrum, 22 May 2023
Although an insect’s tympanum is typically a millimeter or so wide, insects are capable of feats of hearing that currently require devices much larger in size.
—IEEE Spectrum, 22 May 2023
This was topped by a tympanum containing a pedimental scene of metallurgists, farmers and muses.
—James Verini, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2022
This is the tympanum, or more evocatively, the eardrum.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 15 Nov. 2012
Over the door is a stone tympanum adorned with the image of an open book, hinting at the building’s former life.
—Mike Scott, NOLA.com, 12 Aug. 2020
Cite this Entry
“Tympanum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tympanum. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tympanum
noun
tym·pa·num
ˈtim-pə-nəm
plural tympana
-nə
also tympanums
also tympanums
1
: eardrum
2
: a thin membrane of an insect covering an organ of hearing and transmitting vibrations produced by sound waves to it
Medical Definition
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