membranophone

M3E1M3B3R1A1N1O1P3H4O1N1E1

noun

Any musical instrument that produces sound via the vibration of a stretched membrane.

Similar
drumtympan
OriginAncient Greek φωνή (phōnḗ) ← Proto-Hellenic *pʰōnā́ ← Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- →
Scrabble 24
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Meanings

nounmembranophone (plural membranophones)

plural membranophones

  1. entertainmentAny musical instrument that produces sound via the vibration of a stretched membrane.

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna musical percussion instrument; usually consists of a hollow cylinder with a membrane stretched across each end

Similar
drumtympan
Broader
percussion instrumentpercussive instrument
Also see
drumtympan

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Englishmembrane
  2. Proto-Indo-European*bʰeh₂-
  3. Proto-Hellenic*pʰōnā́
  4. Ancient Greekφωνή (phōnḗ)
  5. Englishmembranophone

From membrane + -o- + -phone.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan membranòfon
  • membranòfoninstrument
Finnish kalvosoitin
  • kalvosoitininstrument
French membraphone
  • membraphoneinstrument
German Membranophon
  • Membranophoninstrument
Greek μεμβρανόφωνο
  • μεμβρανόφωνο (memvranófono)instrument
Indonesian membranofon
  • membranofoninstrument
Italian membranofono
  • membranofonoinstrument
Latvian plēvskanis
  • plēvskanisinstrument
Polish membranofon
  • membranofoninstrument
Spanish membranófono
  • membranófonoinstrument
Cite this entry
APA

membranophone. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/membranophone

MLA

“membranophone.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/membranophone. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “membranophone,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/membranophone.

Source: membranophone on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.