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

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

And their childhood friend Wesley Backer is on traps, banging on a 55-gallon rain barrel for a bass drum, buckets for the snare and toms, and sheet metal for cymbals. —Jessica Meszaros, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026

Noun

Nilles proved herself both fierce and precise behind the kit, unpacking every nuance of Peart’s playing, from her fluid waves of tom-tom fills to her snappy hi-hat work. —Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 8 June 2026

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