WordGarden.iotom
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /tˈɒm/
US
- /ˈtɑm/
Meanings
Noun
a male cat, especially an unneutered one
an adult male turkey
Proper-noun
a male given name, often a short form of Thomas
Beyond the definition
A "tom" is usually a male cat or a male turkey. You will often see it in the fuller forms "tomcat" and "tom turkey," but the short form also appears on its own when the meaning is clear. In everyday English, these animal senses are the main ones people mean. It is a short, plain word, but it shows up in both home life and the natural world.
The word "tom" is a simple animal term with two main uses in English. Most often, it means a male cat or a male turkey. In the case of cats, people often say "tomcat," but "tom" by itself can still be used, especially when the animal is already understood from the situation. It brings to mind an adult male cat that roams, guards its space, and carries that familiar rough, independent image.
The other common use is for a male turkey. In this sense, a "tom" is the adult male bird, known for its large size, fan-shaped tail, and proud strut. Hunters, bird watchers, and nature writers often use the word this way, especially when they want a quick, clear label for the bird.
So while the word is short, its meaning is fairly direct. A "tom" is mainly a male cat or a male turkey, and the exact sense depends on the setting. If the scene is a backyard, farm, or forest, the animal in view usually tells you at once which meaning is meant.
Examples
- 1
Male cat
A big ginger tom keeps sleeping on our back step.
- 2
Cat behavior
The two toms started fighting as soon as they saw each other.
- 3
Turkey sale
The farmer set aside the largest tom for the Thanksgiving sale.
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- tomnoun
Forms
- tomspluralnoun