Definition of tympanum Tympanum

/tɪˈmpʌnʌm/ - [timpunum] - tym•pa•num

We found 18 definitions of tympanum from 6 different sources.

What does tympanum mean?

Noun
tympanum - the main cavity of the ear; between the eardrum and the inner ear
		middle ear, tympanic cavity
		bodily cavity, cavum, cavity (anatomy) a natural hollow or sinus within the body
		auditory apparatus all of the components of the organ of hearing including the outer and middle and inner ears
		bonelet, ossicle, ossiculum a small bone; especially one in the middle ear
		auditory tube, eustachian tube either of the paired tubes connecting the middle ears to the nasopharynx; equalizes air pressure on the two sides of the eardrum
		malleus, hammer the ossicle attached to the eardrum
		incus, anvil the ossicle between the malleus and the stapes
tympanum - a large hemispherical brass or copper percussion instrument with a drumhead that can be tuned by adjusting the tension on it
		kettle, kettledrum, tympani, timpani
		percussion instrument, percussive instrument a musical instrument in which the sound is produced by one object striking another
tympanum - the membrane in the ear that vibrates to sound
		eardrum, tympanic membrane, myringa
		tissue layer, membrane a thin pliable sheet of material
		ear the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
		perforated eardrum an eardrum with a hole or tear in it; can interfere with normal hearing and cause other ear problems

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tympanum (Noun)
A triangular space between the sides of a pediment.
tympanum (Noun)
The space within an arch, and above a lintel or a subordinate arch, spanning the opening below the arch.
tympanum (Noun)
The middle ear .
tympanum (Noun)
The eardrum.
tympanum (Noun)
A hearing organ in frogs, toads and some insects.
tympanum (Noun)
A drum-shaped wheel with spirally curved partitions by which water is raised to the axis when the wheel revolves with the lower part of the circumference submerged; used for raising water, as for irrigation.

tympanum (n.)
The ear drum, or middle ear. Sometimes applied incorrectly to the tympanic membrane. See Ear.
tympanum (n.)
A chamber in the anterior part of the syrinx of birds.
tympanum (n.)
One of the naked, inflatable air sacs on the neck of the prairie chicken and other species of grouse.
tympanum (n.)
The recessed face of a pediment within the frame made by the upper and lower cornices, being usually a triangular space or table.
tympanum (n.)
The space within an arch, and above a lintel or a subordinate arch, spanning the opening below the arch.
tympanum (n.)
A drum-shaped wheel with spirally curved partitions by which water is raised to the axis when the wheel revolves with the lower part of the circumference submerged, -- used for raising water, as for irrigation.

tympanum
tim′pan-um, n. (anat.) the membrane which separates the external from the internal ear, often called the drum of the ear: in certain birds, the labyrinth at the bottom of the windpipe: (archit.) the triangular space between sloping and horizontal cornices, or in the corners or sides of an arch: the panel of a door: a water-raising current wheel, originally drum-shaped.—adjs. Tym′panal, Tympan′ic, like a drum: pertaining to the tympanum.—n. a bone of the ear, supporting the drum-membrane.—adj. Tym′paniform, like a tympanum.—ns. Tym′panist, one who plays a drum; Tympanī′tēs, flatulent distension of the belly.—adj. Tympanit′ic.—ns. Tympanī′tis, inflammation of the membrane of the ear; Tym′pany, any swelling, turgidity: tympanites.—Tympanic membrane, the drum-membrane of the ear; Tympanic resonance, the peculiar high-pitched quality of sound produced by percussion over the intestines, &c., when they contain air; Tympanic ring, an annular tympanic bone, to which the tympanic membrane is attached. [L.,—Gr. tympanon, typanon, a kettledrum—typtein, to strike.]

tympanum
A drum, a musical instrument which the ancients used, and which consisted of a thin piece of leather or skin, stretched upon a circle of wood or iron, and beat with the hand. Hence the origin of our drum.