percussion

noun pehr-kus-YOHN Rare

Origin: Latin percussio, a striking

Also means

impact, blow

Usage Note

Percussion covers both the musical family of instruments struck to produce sound (instruments à percussion) and the physical act of striking. In medicine, percussion refers to tapping the body to diagnose by sound. The plural les percussions is commonly used to mean the percussion section of an orchestra.

Examples

"Il joue des percussions dans un groupe de jazz."

Natural Translation

He plays percussion in a jazz band.

Literal Translation

He plays of-the percussions in a group of jazz.

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