From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishtimpanitim‧pa‧ni /ˈtɪmpəni/ noun [uncountable] APMa set of large drums that are played in an orchestra
Examples from the Corpus
timpani• The Philharmonia plays magnificently - especially the brass and timpani - and the recording is excellent.• The combination of timpani and organ greatly enhances spacious, majestic music.• Bowed long notes make good additions to organ pedal parts or timpani rolls.• Some drummers have one or two pedal timpani, others have all three of the mechanical variety.• The timpani, tuned to A and E, can play throughout.• While the woodwind and low strings were reasonably well replicated, the violins, timpani and brass left much to be desired.• Special effects can be obtained by strokes or rolls on a suspended cymbal, executed with timpani or side-drum sticks.Origin timpani (1800-1900) Italian plural of timpano “kettledrum”, from Latin tympanum “drum”, from Greek tympanon 