tom

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈtäm 

1

: the male of various animals: such as

a

: tomcat

b

: a male turkey

2

Tom disparaging : uncle tom

tom-tom

2 of 2

noun (2)

ˈtäm-ˌtäm  ˈtəm-ˌtəm 

1

: a usually long and narrow small-headed drum commonly beaten with the hands

2

old-fashioned : tam-tam sense 2

3

a

: something used to make a noise suggestive of the tom-tom's beating

b

: a monotonous beating, rhythm, or rhythmical sound

4

or less commonly tom : a cylindrical two-headed drum of varying size often used in pairs in drum sets

Illustration of tom-tom

• tom-tom 1

Examples of tom in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Toms, Lindsay says, brushed off her concerns. — Sean Patrick Cooper, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2025

So if a tom gobbles at one or two of your calls and then goes quiet, don’t be discouraged. — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 16 Apr. 2026

Noun

Fertile fields that once knew the beat of tom-toms still hold beneath a carpet of blue grass, the bones of an ancient and extinct race. — Bill Frist, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024

Justin Herbert, more banged up than a Buddy Rich tom-tom, wisely was held out, as were others. — Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Tom, nickname for Thomas

Noun (2)

Hindi & Urdu ṭamṭam

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1762, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1693, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing tom

• tom-tom

Rhymes for tom

• balm
• bom
• bomb
• calm
• dom
• halm
• hom
• malm
• mam
• mom
• palm
• pom

Kids Definition

tom

noun

ˈtäm 

: the male of various animals: as

a

: tom cat

b

: a male turkey