Tome: meaning, definitions and examples

This word is suitable for referring to a large and heavy book, often scholarly or academic in nature. It gives a sense of a substantial, sometimes intimidating work.

• The professor pulled a dusty old tome from the shelf.
• Reading through this ancient tome will take weeks.

Use this word for general reading material, such as novels, stories, or non-specific written works. It is the most common and general term.

• I love reading a good book before bed.
• She borrowed a mystery book from the library.

This word is often used to denote a single book within a series or a large book divided into parts. It can also refer to the physical dimensions of a book.

• I just finished the first volume of the trilogy.
• The encyclopedia's second volume is missing.

This term is used for a detailed and formal written discussion on a specific subject. It usually implies scholarly or technical content.

• He wrote a comprehensive treatise on climate change.
• Her treatise on economic theory was widely acclaimed.

A large, heavy book, usually dealing with a serious topic or containing a wealth of information. Often used in academic or scholarly contexts.

• He spent the entire weekend studying the ancient tome on medieval history.
• The library's rare book collection includes an 18th-century tome on botanical illustrations.

A book of magic spells and invocations, often associated with occult practices and witchcraft. It has a mystical and supernatural connotation.

• The old wizard guarded his grimoire closely, fearing it would fall into the wrong hands.
• Each page of the grimoire was filled with complex spells and mystical symbols.

Similar to a grimoire, a spellbook contains magical spells and enchantments. It is usually associated with fantasy and magic settings.

• The young witch practiced her incantations from an old spellbook she found in the attic.
• He flipped through the spellbook, searching for a protection charm.

A historical term referring to ancient manuscripts or early books, typically handwritten and bound. Particularly used to describe texts from antiquity and the Middle Ages.

• The researchers discovered a well-preserved codex that dates back to the Roman Empire.
• The codex contains detailed sketches of astronomical observations.

A 'tome' is typically used to describe a large, heavy book, often one that is academic or scholarly. It usually implies that the book contains a lot of detailed information.

• He spent the entire summer reading through a tome on ancient Greek philosophy.
• The professor's office was filled with dusty tomes on various historical subjects.

'Record' can be used in both formal and informal contexts and generally means to write down or capture information for future reference. This can be through writing, audio, video, or digital means.

• Please record the meeting so those who couldn't attend can watch it later.
• He recorded his thoughts in a journal every day.

'Inscribe' is often used when referring to carving, etching, or writing something (like text or symbols) permanently onto a surface, such as stone, metal, or inside a book cover. It can also have a ceremonial or formal tone.

• They decided to inscribe their names on the wooden bench as a symbol of their friendship.
• The monument was inscribed with the names of fallen soldiers.

The word 'scribe' is often used in historical or formal contexts to describe someone whose profession was writing by hand, especially when literacy was not widespread. In modern contexts, it can refer to someone taking notes or copying texts.

• In ancient Egypt, scribes were highly respected for their ability to read and write.
• The scribe quickly noted down the king's decrees.