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, Tomming 

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

ToM

³

Or TOM

abbreviation

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

He had to just play kick and snare and toms because if you hit the cymbals they’d reverberate for 20 minutes.

From Los Angeles Times

During concerts, Carlos Niño may set up a bass drum and a floor tom, but his percussion is far from conventional.

From New York Times

The white and ginger tom cat, known as Twix, escaped from his carrier on a train traveling between Yekaterinburg and St. Petersburg on Jan. 11.

From Seattle Times

Tiravanija’s early relational pieces — offering curry and tom ka soup, sodas and beers, grass mats and pillows for weary visitors — appeared as museums increasingly promoted the politics of multiculturalism.

From New York Times

Bush offered a public assurance, saying, “this fine tom turkey, that he will not end up on anyone’s dinner table.”

From Washington Times

Related Words

• kitten 
• kitty