tom
noun
the male of various animals, as the turkey.
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tom
1 American
[tom]
/ tɒm /
noun
toms
plural
-
the male of various animals, as the turkey.
-
a tomcat.
Tom
2
American
[tom]
/ tɒm /
ToM
3
American
Or
TOM
abbreviation
tom
1
British
/ tɒm /
noun
tom
2
British
/ tɒm /
noun
Tom
Idioms
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of tom
First recorded in 1755–65; generic use of the male given name Tom
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
And Vijay Singh in 2001 went with a Thai menu that included tom kha gai soup, chicken panang curry, garlic sea scallops and Chilean sea bass with a three-flavor chili sauce.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 15, 2025
It also shines in fish stews and soups of all kinds, from cacciucco to tom kha gai to cioppino or caldeirada.
From Salon ● Apr. 3, 2025
The sheer deliciousness of the red-orange-oil-slicked tom yum version — with huge wild-caught Gulf shrimp and just-right spice — makes sense now, knowing the Lertsirisins’ story.
From Seattle Times ● May 9, 2024
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 ● Dec. 21, 2023
I'm the one with the tom book bag and the nondesigner jeans.
From "Tears of a Tiger" by Sharon M. Draper
A vote on Clayton's nomination is expected next week, Senator Tom Cotton said.
From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026
Nolan Ryan threw a no-hitter and pitched 173 innings at 44 while Tom Brady quarterbacked the Tampa Bay Bucs to a Super Bowl title at 43.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
Tom Cruise, Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams and IShowSpeed are set to perform as part of the ceremony, with Jennifer Hudson to sing the United States' national anthem.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
In a note to clients last week, RBC analyst Tom Narayan said that Lucid’s brand simply “does not have enough traction” and just a “modest amount of momentum” was driving demand.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026
The door was ajar, and the sight of his bed with the red plaid sheets and the New York Jets pillow he and Tom had gotten after a game immediately made him relax.
From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste
The ideal situation, therefore, would be to relish and use both our full ToM as well as our ability to deny reality, allowing us optimism.
From Salon ● May 25, 2013
But is it possible to hold a full ToM along with a complete recognition of reality?
From Salon ● May 25, 2013
This is originally a piano solo, yet Sorey’s skittering cymbal work was closely attuned to the score, his floor toms tuned to highlight the densest chordal moments in Tao’s interpretation of the notated material.
From New York Times ● May 8, 2023
"The big impact is on breeding, especially for toms," Dr. Alan Krakauer, a biologist at the University of California – Davis, told Salon by email.
From Salon ● Nov. 25, 2022
Frozen inventories of whole toms, which generally weigh 16-24 pounds at the store, were down 17%.
From Reuters ● Nov. 16, 2022
Piercing toms and stabby organs take a perfect vocal hook into even more exalted territory.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2022
As I gradually got louder, I started flicking little quick shots at the high toms.
From "Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie" by Jordan Sonnenblick
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
