tympan

eardrum

noun tam-PAHN Rare

Origin: Greek tympanon (drum)

Also means

tympanum (architecture)

Usage Note

Tympan refers anatomically to the eardrum (le tympan de l'oreille) and architecturally to the triangular space within a pediment or above a doorway. Crever le tympan (to burst the eardrum) is used hyperbolically for very loud noise. In printing, tympan was also the frame holding paper against the type.

Examples

"Le bruit fort peut endommager le tympan."

Natural Translation

Loud noise can damage the eardrum.

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