strum

UK: /ˈstrʌm/ US: /strʌm/ ,(strum)

Inflections of 'strum' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

strums

v 3rd person singular

strumming

v pres p

strummed

v past

strummed

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

strum¹ /strʌm/   v., strummed, strum•ming, n. 
v. 

1. Music and Dance to play on (a stringed musical instrument) by running the fingers lightly across the strings: [no object]
   to strum quietly on the guitar.
   [~ + object]
   softly strumming my guitar.
2. Music and Dance to produce by such playing:
   [~ + object] to strum a tune.

n. [countable]

3. Music and Dance an act, instance, or sound of strumming.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

strum¹ (strum),  v., strummed, strum•ming, n. 

v.t. 

1. Music and Dance to play on (a stringed musical instrument) by running the fingers lightly across the strings.
2. Music and Dance to produce (notes, a melody, etc.) by such playing:
   to strum a tune.

v.i. 

3. Music and Dance to play on a stringed musical instrument by running the fingers lightly across the strings.

n. 

4. Music and Dance the act of strumming.
5. Music and Dance the sound produced by strumming.

• perh. blend of, blended string and thrum¹ 1765–75

strum′mer, n. 

strum² (strum), n. 

1. a strainer, as at the inlet of a system of tubing.

• origin, originally uncertain

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

strum / strʌm/ verb (strums, strumming, strummed)

1. to sound (the strings of a guitar, banjo, etc) with a downward or upward sweep of the thumb or of a plectrum
2. to play (chords, a tune, etc) in this way

Etymology: 18th Century: probably of imitative origin; see thrum¹

ˈstrummer noun