tom

[ tom ]

See synonyms for tom on Thesaurus.com

noun

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

Origin of tom

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

Other definitions for Tom (2 of 3)

Tom

[ tom ]

noun

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

verb (used without object),Tommed, Tom·ming.

(often lowercase) to act like an Uncle Tom.

Other definitions for ToM (3 of 3)

ToM

abbreviation

theory of mind.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use tom in a sentence

But four opponents of the project, contacted independently, each said that mischaracterizes the proposed Toms River Walmart.
Why Is Walmart Paying Chris Christie's Pals? | David Freedlander | February 18, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Yoshiyuki was spying on the Peeping Toms while they were spying on the unsuspecting lovers.
Furtive Photography | Philip Gefter | May 27, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
Some of the men above were tragically called Uncle Toms, but now one of them is poised to be the most powerful man in the world.
Can We Say 'Fuck Whitey' If the President Is Black? | Touré | November 5, 2008 | THE DAILY BEAST
Last night she had fed the camel and caressed it, and she had listened, half awe-struck, to the tom-toms in the distance.
Six Women | Victoria Cross
A loud grunt came from one man—followed by another until the hollow walls gave back like a hundred tom-toms.
The Way of an Indian | Frederic Remington

The fire died down, the tom-toms and singing in the adjoining lodges quieted gradually, and the camp slept.
The Way of an Indian | Frederic Remington
He halted against the long shop-windows of Derry & Toms, and paused for several minutes.
The Sign of Silence | William Le Queux
The dance itself was a monotonous jig, executed to the excruciating 108 music of various drums or tom-toms.
Wanderings in Patagonia | Julius Beerbohm

British Dictionary definitions for tom (1 of 2)

tom¹

/ (tɒm) /

noun

- the male of various animals, esp the cat
- (as modifier): a tom turkey
- (in combination): a tomcat

Origin of tom

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

British Dictionary definitions for tom (2 of 2)

tom²

/ (tɒm) /

noun

Australian and NZ a temporary supporting post

Origin of tom

from a specialized use of tom 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with tom

tom

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

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