1. Family of musical instruments where sound is produced by striking one thing against another or by shaking; drums, gongs, rattles, cymbals, bells, triangle, etc.
   "She plays percussion in the orchestra"
    
2. The section of a band or orchestra that plays percussion instruments
   "The percussion section kept a steady beat throughout the performance";
   - percussion section, rhythm section
    
3. The striking or sound of striking of one object against another
   "The percussion of raindrops on the roof was soothing"
    
4. The act of playing a percussion instrument
   "The drummer's energetic percussion drove the rhythm of the song"
    
5. The act of exploding a percussion cap
   "The percussion of the primer ignited the gunpowder"
    
6. Tapping a part of the body for diagnostic purposes
   "The doctor used percussion to assess the patient's lung condition";
   - pleximetry

Derived forms: percussions

Type of: auscultation, detonation, music, section

Encyclopedia: Percussion, medical