tomb

[ toom ]

noun

1. an excavation in earth or rock for the burial of a corpse; grave.
2. a mausoleum, burial chamber, or the like.
3. a monument for housing or commemorating a dead person.
4. any sepulchral structure.

verb (used with object)

1. to place in or as if in a tomb; entomb; bury.

tomb

/ tuːm /

noun

1. a place, esp a vault beneath the ground, for the burial of a corpse
2. a stone or other monument to the dead
3. See death
   the tomb
   the tomb a poetic term for death
4. anything serving as a burial place

   the sea was his tomb

verb

1. rare.
   tr to place in a tomb; entomb

Derived Forms

• ˈtombˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• tombal adjective
• tombless adjective
• tomblike adjective
• un·tombed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tomb¹

1225–75; Middle English tumbe < Anglo-French; Old French tombe < Late Latin tumba < Greek týmbos burial mound; akin to Latin tumēre to swell. See tumor, tumulus

Word History and Origins

Origin of tomb¹

C13: from Old French tombe, from Late Latin tumba burial mound, from Greek tumbos; related to Latin tumēre to swell, Middle Irish tomm hill

Example Sentences

After death, grave robbers broke into their tomb at least twice, and now archaeologists have pieced together some fragments of the story—mostly the postmortem chapters.

From Ars Technica

This was six weeks after opening and entering the actual burial chamber of the tomb.

From Science News For Students

The treasure-filled room was one of four associated with the tomb of Tutankhamen.

From Science News For Students

To some people, however, the fact that a person entered a tomb and then died soon after seemed too strange to be a coincidence.

From Science News For Students

Some scientifically minded people questioned whether toxic mold or bacteria in the tomb might have led to the deaths.

From Science News For Students

In addition to visiting the tomb of John Paul, who died of natural causes in 2005, Agca asked to see his successor, Pope Francis.

From The Daily Beast

He has put flowers on the tomb of John Paul II,” said Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi, “I think that is enough.

From The Daily Beast

But the proud stone lion that once stood atop the tomb, as Peristeri has often maintained, suggests a male occupant and a warrior.

From The Daily Beast

The tomb, though much smaller than the palace, is similarly a vision of ornate twists, arches, and peaks.

From The Daily Beast

Greece has high hopes that the giant tomb now being excavated at Amphipolis contains one of these ancient Macedonian leaders.

From The Daily Beast

Taking half a dozen men with him, and compelling the woman to act as guide, he went to the tomb in the dark.

From Project Gutenberg

D'Israeli loved the long pipe in his youth, but in middle age pronounced it 'the tomb of love.'

From Project Gutenberg

Over the tomb is placed a herse of iron, furnished with stands for holding lighted candles or torches.

From Project Gutenberg

And it seemed to Tom that his cousin came upon them out of the heart of a dream, out of the earth, out of a sandy tomb.

From Project Gutenberg

Thebes was a single, enormous tomb; his past lay buried there; from the solemn, mournful, desolate hills he had escaped.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• burial
• coffin
• mausoleum
• monument
• pit
• vault