A tom-tom is a drum, usually a small or medium cylindrical drum played with hands or sticks, and it’s also used to describe a repetitive drumming sound. In modern drum kits, “tom” often refers to the tom drums that add depth and rhythm.

Common meanings

  • A hand-played drum in some traditional music contexts.
  • A drum used in a drum kit, usually called a tom.
  • A repeating drumlike beat or sound.

Simple example

If someone says, “I heard the tom-toms in the distance,” they usually mean drumming or a drumbeat sound, not a person or object.

Note on usage

The term can be used in different ways depending on context, but the most common modern meaning is the drum or drum sound.