Search Dictionary
Definition of tambora

tambora

/tɑːmˈbɔːr.ə/
tam · bo · ra
Plural:tamboras
JUMP TO:

tambora Lexical Profile

• noun

1

An active stratovolcano located on the island of Sumbawa in Indonesia, globally renowned for its catastrophic 1815 eruption which caused the 'Year Without a Summer'.

2

A two-headed drum native to the Dominican Republic, played with a stick on one side and the bare hand on the other, essential to traditional merengue music.

Example

"The lively rhythm of the merengue was driven by the rapid, syncopated beats of the tambora."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for tambora

Word Nuance & Usage

Capitalized as 'Tambora' when referring to the Indonesian volcano; lowercased as 'tambora' when referring to the Dominican drum.

• Rhymes for tambora

• Nearby Words

tambo
tambo river
tambopata
tambora
tambourine
tame
tamely

Word Origin & Etymology

The musical instrument derives from Spanish 'tambora', an augmentative form of 'tambor' (drum), which traces back to Arabic or Persian roots. The volcano Mount Tambora takes its name from the local Sumbawa language of Indonesia.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Tambora. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/tambora
Built for writers, students, and competitive word game players, Wordmom combines an uncluttered English dictionary and thesaurus with fast, pattern-based word finders so you can verify definitions, synonyms, and high-scoring tile plays in one place.
Word Games & Solvers
Word FinderScrabble Word FinderWords With Friends CheatWordle SolverAnagram Solver
Dictionary & Reference
DictionarySynonymsAntonymsWords
Community
Contact UsEditorial PolicyPrivacy PolicyTerms and Conditions
© 2016–2026 Wordmom Network. All rights reserved. Made with for word lovers everywhere.
Disclaimer: SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A. and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. Words With Friends® is a registered trademark of Zynga Inc. Wordle® is a registered trademark of The New York Times Company. Other referenced game titles and tournament lexicon codes (including NASPA NWL and WESPA/HarperCollins CSW) are trademarks of their respective owners. Wordmom is an independent reference utility for educational and entertainment purposes and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Hasbro, Mattel, Spear, Zynga, The New York Times Company, NASPA, WESPA, or HarperCollins Publishers. All game names are referenced strictly under nominative fair use to indicate compatibility.