tympanum
/ˈtɪmpənəm/noun
(pl. tympanums 或tympana /-nə/)
1
- Anatomy & Zoology the tympanic membrane or eardrum【剖, 动】鼓膜, 鼓室。
1.1
- Entomology a membrane covering the hearing organ on the leg or body of some insects, sometimes adapted (as in cicadas) for producing sound【昆】鸣腔。
1.2
- archaic a drum〈古〉鼓; 鼓面。
2
- Architecture a vertical recessed triangular space forming the centre of a pediment, typically decorated【建筑】山墙饰内三角面。
2.1
- a similar space over a door between the lintel and the arch门楣中心, 楣上拱形面。
词源
early 17th cent.: via Latin from Greek tumpanon'drum', based on tuptein 'to strike'.