n.
- The striking together of two bodies, especially when noise is produced.
- The sound, vibration, or shock caused by the striking together of two bodies.
- The act of detonating a percussion cap in a firearm.
- A method of medical diagnosis in which various areas of the body, especially the chest, back, and abdomen, are tapped to determine by resonance the condition of internal organs.
- Music.
- The section of a band or orchestra composed of percussion instruments.
- Percussion instruments or their players considered as a group.
[Latin percussiō, percussiōn-, from percussus, past participle of percutere, to percuss. See percuss.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
