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:
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 ● Dec. 17, 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
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 ● May 13, 2024
Bush offered a public assurance, saying, “this fine tom turkey, that he will not end up on anyone’s dinner table.”
From Washington Times ● Nov. 21, 2023
I said, “Sergeant, what prompted this new search? You’ve already tom the penthouse apart.”
From "Confessions of a Murder Suspect" by James Patterson
The crater was officially named McGetchin in honor of pioneering lunar scientist Tom McGetchin.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 18, 2026
Former cabinet minister and Labour Party deputy leader Lord Tom Watson has become a senior vice president at US tech firm Palantir.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
Cruise avoids the personal by making his work inextricable from his life, thereby asking the reader to perform a clever thought exercise: What if Tom Cruise were telling the truth?
From Salon ● Sep. 17, 2026
Rep. Tom Barrett, a Republican congressman running for reelection in Michigan’s 7th District, was one of several speakers who talked about the unity that followed 9/11.
From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026
Tom, with his arm draped over the shoulders of a smiling woman.
From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste
But is it possible to hold a full ToM along with a complete recognition of reality?
From Salon ● May 25, 2013
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
"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
The Presidential Flock are usually toms – males – because of their traditional appearance, strut and gobbling sounds, according to Williams.
From Fox News ● Nov. 19, 2018
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.
