1. (

• rub-a-dub ,
• rataplan ,
• drumbeat

) the sound made by beating a drum ;

2. (

• drumbeat

) (military) the beating of a drum as a signal for lowering the flag at sundown ;

3. (

• drumbeat

) a vehement and vociferous advocacy of a cause; "the warmongers kept up their drumbeat on Iraq" ;