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Definition of "strum" [strum]

  • To play (a stringed musical instrument) by stroking or brushing the strings: strum a banjo. (verb-transitive)
  • To play (music) on a stringed instrument in this way: strum chords on a guitar. (verb-transitive)
  • To play a stringed instrument by strumming. (verb-intransitive)
  • The act or sound of strumming. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "strum" in a sentence
  • "Not surprisingly, the strum is the thing for Luna."
  • "Rock out by blasting enemies with riff combos and creating your own sounds with each "strum" of a chord!"
  • "When you listen to Irish or Scottish tunes, keep your pick in hand and 'strum' (I like to use the outer seam of my pants on my thigh) along with the melody."