tom

n. a male cat, especially one that has not been neutered.

n. a male domesticated cat, specifically an intact male.

“The neighbor's ginger tom was sitting on the fence and watching the birds.”

“An unneutered tom will often wander far from home in search of a mate, marking its territory with a strong scent.”

n. a male turkey.

n. a male turkey, typically characterized by its larger size and ability to fan its tail.

“The big tom turkey puffed out its feathers to look impressive.”

“During the spring mating season, the tom displays its colorful plumage and gobbles loudly to attract the attention of nearby hens.”

n. a type of drum that makes a deep sound, often part of a drum kit.

n. a cylindrical drum without snares, used as part of a standard drum kit; a clipping of 'tom-tom'.

“The drummer played a fast rhythm on the floor tom during the solo.”

“The engineer spent hours tuning the rack toms to ensure they had a clean, resonant decay that wouldn't muddy the recording.”

n. a slang word for jewellery.

n. a slang term for jewellery, derived from the Cockney rhyming slang 'Tom Foolery'.

“He was wearing a lot of expensive tom around his neck.”

“The local thieves were known for targeting tourists who displayed too much flashy tom in the market.”

British English · Slang · Dialect

v. to act in a way that is too helpful or obedient to white people in power.

v. to behave in an obsequiously servile manner toward white authority figures; derived from the 'Uncle Tom' archetype.

“The community criticized the politician for tomming to the city council.”

“The activist warned that tomming for the sake of political gain would only undermine the movement's long-term goals.”

American English · Slang · Informal