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Often thrums short bits of rope yarn used for making mats.verb (used with object)thrummed, thrumming Nautical. to insert short pieces of rope yarn through (canvas) and thus give it a rough surface, as for wrapping about a part to prevent chafing.to furnish or cover with thrums, ends of thread, or tufts.thrum1/ θrʌm /nounany of the unwoven ends of warp thread remaining on the loom when the web has been removedsuch ends of thread collectivelya fringe or tassel of short unwoven threads“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012verb(tr) to trim with thrums“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012thrum2/ θrʌm /verbto strum rhythmically but without expression on (a musical instrument)(intr) to drum incessantlyrain thrummed on the roofto repeat (something) monotonously“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012nouna repetitive strumming or recitation“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012Discover MoreOther Word Formsthrummer nounˈthrummer nounDiscover MoreWord History and OriginsOrigin of thrum1First recorded in 1545–55; imitativeOrigin of thrum2First recorded before 1000; Middle English noun thrum, thrum(m)e, “end-piece (from the warp of a loom)”, Old English -thrum (in tungethrum “ligament of the tongue”), cognate with Old High German drum “end-piece”; akin to Old Norse thrǫmr “brim, edge, verge,” Latin terminus, Greek térma “end”Discover MoreWord History and OriginsOrigin of thrum1C14: from Old English; related to Old High German drum remnant, Dutch dreumOrigin of thrum2C16: of imitative originDiscover MoreExample SentencesExamples have not been reviewed.Traffic from nearby Highway 4 produced an insistent, thrumming soundtrack.From The air thrums with the din of destruction — giant excavators clanking against steel beams, trucks bleating out warning signals as they back into position, green organic material whooshing out of hoses onto finished sites.From The content center isn’t open to the public but often has visitors, guests of the club, and for one week a year thrums with activity from before daybreak to long after nightfall.From The exquisite chamber-soul arrangement thrums inexorably yet with zero hurry; the vocal precisely elongates each phrase just a tick or two beyond where you expect.From From an interior window in his office, Broecker’s desk overlooks the area known as “Main Street,” the central corridor connecting the studio to the backstage hive that thrums with controlled chaos every Saturday night.From AdvertisementDiscover MoreRelated Words AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBrowse#aabbccddeeffgghhiijjkkllmmnnooppqqrrssttuuvvwwxxyyzzContact usDo not sell my infoFollow usGet the Word of the Day every day!Sign upBy clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com © 2025 Dictionary.com, LLC, : to play or pluck a stringed instrument idly : strum. : to play (something, such as a stringed instrument) in an idle or relaxed manner. : to recite tiresomely or monotonously. : a fringe of warp threads left on the loom after the cloth has been removed. : to furnish with thrums : fringe., THRUM definition: 1. to make a continuous low sound: 2. to play a guitar or similar stringed instrument in a way…. 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