verb
strum
struhm
verb
1
To play a stringed instrument by brushing the fingers or a pick across several strings at once.
"He sat on the porch strumming his guitar."
"She strummed a few chords to warm up before the show."
noun
1
The sound or action of strumming.
"The song opens with a gentle strum on an acoustic guitar."
How to Use Strum
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishPlaying a guitar or similar instrument by sweeping across multiple strings rather than picking single notes.
Common pairings
strum a guitar
strum along
strum chords
Word Forms
strummed past tense, strums plural, Strums plural, strums singular
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The song opens with a gentle _____ on an acoustic guitar.
Etymology
A variant of the older word thrum, describing the rhythmic playing of stringed instruments.