tympanum

noun

tym·​pa·​num ˈtim-pə-nəm How to pronounce tympanum (audio)
plural tympana ˈtim-pə-nə How to pronounce tympanum (audio) also tympanums
1
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

Illustration of tympanum

Illustration of tympanum
  • 1 tympanum 2a

Examples of tympanum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin & Latin; Medieval Latin, eardrum, from Latin, drum, architectural panel, from Greek tympanon drum, kettledrum; perhaps akin to Greek typtein to beat

First Known Use

1619, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Time Traveler
The first known use of tympanum was in 1619

Browse Nearby Words

tympanum
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tympanum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tympanum. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

Kids Definition

tympanum

noun
tym·​pa·​num ˈtim-pə-nəm How to pronounce tympanum (audio)
plural tympana -nə How to pronounce tympanum (audio) 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

More from Merriam-Webster on tympanum

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tympanum

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Words You Always Have to Look Up
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular Features

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
dog-in-disguise
Rhyme Disguise Quiz Pair up words that look different but sound alike.
See All