Definition

A stretched sheet or membrane, often found on drums, or a padding used in printing to control pressure.

Example

The drummer tightened the tympan to achieve a better sound.

Conversation

Have you ever seen the inside of an old printing press?

No, I haven't, but I've heard they use a tympan for printing.

Yeah, it's interesting how they put a sheet over the platen to control the pressure.

Definitely! That must make a big difference in the quality of the print.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Tympan → The word 'tympan' originates from the Greek 'tympanon' (τύμπανον), meaning a drum or a membrane. It refers to a drum-like structure, often used in various contexts such as anatomy or music.

Memory Tip

Think of the Greek word for drum ('tympanon') to remember that 'tympan' relates to a drum-like structure.

Visually Confused Words