tom

¹ American  

[tom] / tɒm /

noun

1. the male of various animals, as the turkey.

2. a tomcat.

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Tom ² American  

[tom] / tɒm /

noun

1. Uncle Tom.

2. a male given name, form of Thomas.

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verb (used without object)

Tommed, Tomming

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

ToM ³ American  

Or TOM

abbreviation

1. theory of mind.

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tom ¹ British  

/ tɒm /

noun

1. 1. the male of various animals, esp the cat

   2. ( as modifier )

      a tom turkey

   3. ( in combination )

      a tomcat

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tom ² British  

/ tɒm /

noun

1. a temporary supporting post

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Tom Idioms  

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

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Etymology

Origin of tom

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

Example Sentences

You know John Bonham’s tom fills when you hear them, just as you can immediately recognize the sound of Ringo Starr’s hi-hats.

From Los Angeles Times

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

Related Words

• kitten
• kitty