tome

1 of 2

noun

ˈtōm 

1

: book

especially : a large or scholarly book

2

: a volume forming part of a larger work

-tome

2 of 2

noun combining form

1

: part : segment

myotome

2

: cutting instrument

microtome

Synonyms

Noun

• book
• volume

Examples of tome in a Sentence

Noun

a long tome on European history

picked up a thick tome on the Roman Empire at a used book store

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But the case for Newman as popular music’s greatest social commentators is the one being pressed most of all by former L.A. Times rock critic Hilburn in his latest biography (following his excellent Paul Simon tome). —Jem Aswad, Variety, 17 Dec. 2024

In his new tome, Mastering the Art of Plant-Based Cooking, Yonan channels the omnibus nature of Julia Child’s seminal Mastering the Art of French Cooking. —The Bon Appétit and Epicurious Staffs, Bon Appétit, 10 Dec. 2024

Like the exhibit, the new tome, The Book of HOV: A Tribute to Jay-Z, will be divided into eight chapters, each one inspired (and named after) a different Jay-Z lyric. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 3 Dec. 2024

The resulting tome is a must-have for any fashion fanatic, as well as an invitation to take a closer look at the world that surrounds us. —Laia Garcia-Furtado, Vogue, 25 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin tomus, from Greek tomos section, roll of papyrus, tome, from temnein to cut; akin to Middle Irish tamnaid he lops, Polish ciąć to cut, and perhaps to Latin tondēre to shear

Noun combining form

Greek tomos

First Known Use

Noun

1519, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

tome

noun

ˈtōm 

: a big thick book