noun
Very common
tom
tom
Tom (noun) means a male cat. Example: “Our neighbour's tom sleeps on the garden wall all afternoon.”
noun
1
A male cat.
"Our neighbour's tom sleeps on the garden wall all afternoon."
"The vet said the tom needed to stay indoors while his scratches healed."
"The tom prowled the alley behind the house every night."
verb
1
To behave in a servile, deferential way toward a dominant group, especially white authority (offensive slang, derived from "Uncle Tom").
"The character was criticized for how the film had him tom his way through every scene."
name
1
A common diminutive of the male given name Thomas, also used as a name in its own right.
"Everyone called him Tom instead of Thomas."
How to use tom
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost often a man's first name (short for Thomas) or a word for a male cat.
When to use it
The verb sense related to "Uncle Tom" is a loaded, offensive term rooted in a racial slur and best avoided.
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Word forms
- Plural
- toms
- Third person singular
- toms
- Past tense
- tommed
Fill the gap
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Our neighbour's _____ sleeps on the garden wall all afternoon.
Etymology
A very old, common personal name; the male-cat sense is shortened from "tomcat."
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “tom” mean?
The word “tom” means a common diminutive of the male given name Thomas, also used as a name in its own right. In plain terms, most often a man's first name (short for Thomas) or a word for a male cat.
How do you pronounce “tom”?
“Tom” is pronounced tom (/tɑm/ in IPA).
How do you use “tom” in a sentence?
Here is “tom” used in a sentence: “Everyone called him Tom instead of Thomas.”
What part of speech is “tom”?
Depending on how it is used, “tom” can be a name, a noun and a verb.
Is “tom” a common word?
“Tom” is a very common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “tom” have?
“Tom” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a common diminutive of the male given name Thomas, also used as a name in its own right.
What is the name Tom short for?
Tom is the usual short form of Thomas, a long-established male given name. It can also stand on its own as a person's full first name. The even more informal version is Tommy. Thomas comes from an Aramaic word meaning 'twin', which is part of why the name has such deep historical roots.
Does 'tom' also mean a male cat?
Yes. Outside of the given name, a tom — or tomcat — is an adult male cat, in contrast to a female, which is called a queen. The word is also used for a male turkey. So depending on context, 'tom' can refer to a man named Thomas or to a male animal.
Is Tom a boy's or girl's name?
Tom is traditionally a boy's name, used as a short form of the masculine name Thomas. It has been popular across English-speaking countries for centuries and appears in countless famous names and characters. While nicknames can vary, Tom is understood almost everywhere as a male given name.
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