tomb

UK: /ˈtuːm/ US: /tum/ ,(to̅o̅m)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

tomb /tum/   n. [countable]

1. a hole dug in earth for the burial of a corpse;
   a grave.
2. a large burial chamber or the like.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

tomb (to̅o̅m),  n. 

1. an excavation in earth or rock for the burial of a corpse;
   grave.
2. a mausoleum, burial chamber, or the like.
3. a monument for housing or commemorating a dead person.
4. any sepulchral structure.

v.t. 

5. to place in or as if in a tomb;
   entomb;
   bury.

• Greek týmbos burial mound; akin to Latin tumēre to swell. See tumor, tumulus
• Late Latin tumba
• Anglo-French; Old French tombe
• Middle English tumbe 1225–75

tomb ′al, adj. 
tomb ′less, adj. 
tomb ′like′, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

tomb / tuːm/ noun

1. a place, esp a vault beneath the ground, for the burial of a corpse
2. a stone or other monument to the dead
3. the tomb ⇒
   a poetic term for death

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French tombe, from Late Latin tumba burial mound, from Greek tumbos; related to Latin tumēre to swell, Middle Irish tomm hill