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

      a tom turkey

   3. ( in combination )

      a tomcat

tom

²

/ tɒm /

noun

1. a temporary supporting post

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

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

Origin of tom²

from a specialized use of tom ¹

Idioms and Phrases

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

Example Sentences

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