tome

¹ American  

[tohm] / toʊm /

noun

1. a book, especially a very heavy, large, or learned book.

2. a volume forming a part of a larger work.

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-tome ² American  

1. a combining form with the meanings “cutting instrument” (microtome; osteotome ), “segment, somite” (sclerotome ), used in the formation of compound words.

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tome ¹ British  

/ təʊm /

noun

1. a large weighty book

2. one of the several volumes of a work

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-tome ² British  

combining form

1. indicating an instrument for cutting

   osteotome

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Usage

What does -tome mean? The combining form -tome is used like a suffix to mean “cutting instrument” as well as a “segment, somite.” A somite is a scientific term designating body segments in animals like worms or segments of a developing embryo. The form -tome is used in some scientific and medical terms, especially in anatomy and surgery. It comes from the Greek tomḗ, meaning “a cutting,” and tómos, “a cut, slice.”The Greek root tómos, which can also mean “piece, roll of paper, or book,” is also the source of the word tome. Crack open the history of tome at our entry for the word. Also related to tómos is atom. What’s the big idea behind atoms and cutting? Find out in our Origin section for this term. Related to -tome are the combining forms -ectomy, -tomous, -tomy, and tomo-. Slice into their specific meanings at our Words That Use articles for the forms.

Etymology

Origin of tome¹

First recorded in 1510–20; from French, from Latin tomus, from Greek tómos “slice, piece, roll of paper, book,” akin to témnein “to cut”

Origin of -tome²

Combining form representing Greek tomḗ a cutting; tómos a cut, slice; -tomon (neuter), -tomos (masculine) -cutting (adj.)

Explanation

A tome is a large book. If you're pre-med, chances are you're going to have one heck of a tome for your biology class. Tome is often used to refer to a book that is not only really large but also unusually important. If you generally carry more than one tome to class, invest in a bag with wheels so you don't hurt your back. A tome is big and heavy. "Wow! This tome weighs a ton!" Whatever you do, don't leave your tome at home — you'll wind up in detention! You can also use tome sarcastically to describe a book that clearly isn't large or important. But sarcasm is for advanced users only.

Example Sentences

Gorgeously produced with a cornucopia of photos and movie stills, this tome clocks in at 501 pages and answers almost every question you ever had about the legendary filmmaker.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

For historians and rubbernecking readers alike, “All the President’s Men” would be a necessary tome, a how-to on exposing corruption.

From Salon • Mar. 7, 2026

But what I found when I dug into the nearly 500-page tome is that we never should have listened to Attia in the first place.

From Slate • Feb. 26, 2026

Federline responds to the stories and accusations that Spears tells in her 2023 tome, in which she describes being financially and emotionally controlled by those closest to her.

From BBC • Oct. 24, 2025

Their only issue, an unnamed boy de-scribed in Malleon's tome as a large and lusty lad born with a full head of black hair, died in infancy.

From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin

Related Words

• magnum opus
• novel
• opus
• publication
• reference book
• textbook