From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpercussionper‧cus‧sion /pəˈkʌʃən $ pər-/ noun [uncountable] 1 APMmusical instruments such as drums, bells etc which you play by hitting them Tonight we have Paul Duke on percussion (=playing a percussion instrument). a range of percussion instruments → brass(2), stringed instrument, wind instrument, woodwind2 → the percussion (section)3 CHIT/BUMP INTO formal the sound or effect of two things hitting each other with great force —percussionist noun [countable]
Examples from the Corpus
percussion• percussion instruments• Her Web site on the Internet contains a percussion master class.• He was a dynamic band leader and charismatic front man who sang and played saxophone, keyboard and percussion.• And somewhere along the way, a ghostly percussion band joined the crowd.• He is the principal member of his ensemble, the shifting ocean of percussion on which his instrumental group rides.• So we must warn that percussion can easily be overworked and become tiresome.• That released the firing pin, which in turn fired the percussion cap and triggered a chemical reaction that generated oxygen.• A constant clash and tinkle came from the kitchens across the courtyard, like the percussion section of an orchestra from hell.• Instead the class used percussion music to convey the clash between the two armies.percussion instruments• His first distinctive works were for percussion instruments or pianos prepared with nuts and bolts inserted between the strings.• He bashed about on percussion instruments.Origin percussion (1500-1600) Latin percussio “act of hitting”, from percutere “to hit hard”