tom

¹

[ tom ]

noun

1. the male of various animals, as the turkey.
2. a tomcat.

Tom

²

[ tom ]

noun

1. Uncle Tom.
2. a male given name, form of Thomas.

verb (used without object)

, Tommed, Tom·ming.

1. (often lowercase) to act like an Uncle Tom.

ToM

³

or TOM

abbreviation for

1. theory of mind.

tom

¹

/ tɒm /

noun

1. a temporary supporting post

tom

²

/ tɒm /

noun

1. 1. the male of various animals, esp the cat
   2. ( as modifier )

      a tom turkey

   3. ( in combination )

      a tomcat

Word History and Origins

Origin of tom¹

First recorded in 1755–65; generic use of the male given name Tom

Word History and Origins

Origin of tom¹

from a specialized use of tom ¹

Origin of tom²

C16: special use of the shortened form of Thomas, applied to any male, often implying a common or ordinary type of person, etc

Idioms and Phrases

see every tom, dick, and harry ; peeping tom .

Example Sentences

Wherever they meet and work out — I’m hoping we have an offseason for the younger players — Tom doesn’t need it.

From Washington Post

Tom was polite to a fault and was willing to answer any question about anyone.

From Washington Post

For one, the cells that encode data for Tom’s ideas update to his perception of reality.

From Singularity Hub 

Some messages, according to the FBI, included, “Tom all legislators are down in the Tunnels 3floors down,” and “Go through back house chamber doors facing N left down hallway down steps.”

From Washington Post

Tom is happy with this, but still wonders whether they are really reading it, or whether they are looking at it and leaving.

From Search Engine Watch

Tom Brady, the prettiest of pretty boys, leads the Patriots.

From The Daily Beast

There, many minority parents supported Tom Torklarson, who favored the education reform agenda.

From The Daily Beast

Tom Rust, a spokesman for the House Ethics Committee, declined to comment to The Daily Beast.

From The Daily Beast

Retired Det. Tom Nerney, formerly of the NYPD Major Case Squad, investigated Shakur.

From The Daily Beast

Tom Cotton credits Harvard as the place where he “discovered political philosophy as a way of life.”

From The Daily Beast

Tom—I felt out of myself in a way—as though I'd escaped—into—into quite different conditions——'

From Project Gutenberg

The conflict in Tom's puzzled heart sharpened that evening into dreadful edges that cut him mercilessly whichever way he turned.

From Project Gutenberg

She gave details of the singular mood that had come upon her with the arrival of Tony, but Tom hardly heard her.

From Project Gutenberg

Then, inexplicably, he shifted to the other side that the old, the normal Tom presented generously to the new.

From Project Gutenberg

Tom lingered a few minutes, watching them pass along the verandah to the room beyond.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• kitten
• kitty