Definition

1. Noun:
   • A male turkey: "tom turkey" specifically refers to an adult male turkey, distinguished from the female (hen) by its larger size, more prominent snood (fleshy growth over the beak), and more colorful plumage. It is often associated with the characteristic gobbling sound.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The farmer keeps several tom turkeys for breeding.
  • A tom turkey's gobble can be heard from a long distance.
  • The tom turkey displayed its feathers to attract hens.

Advanced Usage

• "strutting like a tom turkey": behaving in a proud, showy, or pompous manner, often used figuratively.
  • After his promotion, he was strutting around the office like a tom turkey.

Variants and Related Words

• Tom (n): a common short form for "tom turkey."
  • We saw a big tom in the field.
• Gobbler (n): another informal term for a male turkey, referring to its distinctive vocalization.
  • The hunter was tracking an old gobbler.
• Turkey cock (n): an older, synonymous term for a male turkey.

Synonyms

• Male turkey: the direct descriptive synonym.
• Gobbler: emphasizes the sound it makes.

Related Phrases

• Tom is also used in the names of other male animals (e.g., tomcat). This usage pattern indicates the male of the species.

Noun

1. male turkey