: a thin tense membrane covering an organ of hearing of an insect see insect illustration
c
: a membranous resonator in a sound-producing organ
2
a
: the recessed usually triangular face of a pediment within the frame made by the upper and lower cornices
b
: the space within an arch and above a lintel or a subordinate arch
Illustration of tympanum
1 tympanum 2a
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebOver the door is a stone tympanum adorned with the image of an open book, hinting at the building’s former life. Mike Scott, NOLA.com, 12 Aug. 2020
Word History
Etymology
Medieval Latin & Latin; Medieval Latin, eardrum, from Latin, drum, architectural panel, from Greek tympanon drum, kettledrum; perhaps akin to Greek typtein to beat