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Quranic root

تمم

t · m · m

The root centers on completion: reaching a state free of deficiency and bringing something to full realization.

From the basic idea of completeness, usage extends to fulfillment, full growth and fullness, completion of a period or undertaking, and things that supplement or finish an incomplete whole.

  • Maqāyīs · row 957
4
Quran-attested forms
4
Quran senses
22
Quran occurrences

Forms in the Quran

The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.

تَمَّ

tamma

Part of speech
Verb · Form I
Form
I
Quran occurrences
4 occurrences

Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.

  1. To become complete, whole, full, or free of deficiency; to reach completion.

    An intransitive completion verb, used for something reaching its full state or a period reaching its appointed completion.

    • Lane · entry 16822
    • Mufradāt · row 191
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 6:115word 1

    And (has been) fulfilled

    Quran 7:142word 7

    so was completed

أَتَمَّ

ʾatamma

Part of speech
Verb · Form IV
Form
IV
Quran occurrences
16 occurrences

Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.

  1. To complete or make whole; to bring an undertaking, rite, obligation, or other matter to full accomplishment.

    A transitive causative completion verb. With rites, covenants, duties, and other undertakings it can be rendered “perform,” “fulfill,” or “perfect” when the context emphasizes complete accomplishment.

    • Lane · entry 16825
    • Mufradāt · row 191
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 2:124word 6

    and he fulfilled them

    Quran 2:196word 1

    And complete

    Quran 5:3word 44

    and I have completed

    Quran 9:32word 11

    perfect

مُتِمّ

mutimm

Part of speech
Active participle
Quran occurrences
1 occurrence

Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.

  1. One who completes, brings to completion, or perfects something.

    The active participle of أَتَمَّ; in the Quran it describes the one who will perfect or complete a specified matter.

    • Lane · entry 16825
    • Mufradāt · row 191
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 61:8word 7

    will perfect

تَمَام

tamām

Part of speech
Noun
Quran occurrences
1 occurrence

Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.

  1. Completion or completeness: reaching a state free from deficiency, or the completion that makes something whole.

    An abstract noun used for the completed state or for completion of a matter, including the completion of a bestowed benefit.

    • Lane · entry 16837
    • Mufradāt · row 191
    Selected Quran examples

    Quran 6:154word 5

    completing (Our Favor)

Occurrences in the Quran

Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.

  • 2:124فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ ۖand he fulfilled them
  • 2:150وَلِأُتِمَّAnd that I complete
  • 2:187أَتِمُّوا۟complete
  • 2:196وَأَتِمُّوا۟And complete
  • 2:233يُتِمَّcomplete
View all 22 occurrences

Broader Classical Arabic meanings

Recorded for this root in the Classical lexicons beyond its Quran usage. These are secondary to the Quran senses above.

Show 39 Classical meanings
  • تَمَّ

    To become strong or hard.

    A reported extension of becoming complete, said of a thing that becomes firm or hardened.

    • Lane · entry 16822
  • تَمَّ إِلَى

    To reach, attain, or arrive at something, including eminence or the means of acquiring it.

    Used with إِلَى in a construction of attainment.

    • Lane · entry 16822
  • تَمَّ إِلَى

    To repair, betake oneself, or go to a place.

    A directional construction; a cited poetic context is also interpreted as completing a pilgrimage while going to its destination.

    • Lane · entry 16822
  • تَمَّ عَلَيْهِ

    To perform, execute, or accomplish an affair, fast, purpose, or intention.

    A transitive construction with عَلَى referring to carrying an undertaking through.

    • Lane · entry 16822
  • تَمَّ عَلَى

    To persevere in something or continue firmly in a course of action or attitude.

    Used with عَلَى, including perseverance in refusal, dislike, or disapproval.

    • Lane · entry 16822
  • تُمَّ

    To be broken.

    A separate reported vocalized form and lexical use.

    • Lane · entry 16822
  • تُمَّ

    To become jaded, harassed, distressed, fatigued, or wearied.

    A reported interpretation associated with the same vocalized form.

    • Lane · entry 16822
  • تَمَّمَهُ

    To destroy something or bring it to its appointed term and end.

    A Form II causative use in which completion results in destruction or termination.

    • Lane · entry 16823
  • تَمَّمَهُمْ

    To give players their remaining share in the maysir game, thereby making the shares complete.

    A specialized maysir construction involving distribution of the remaining meat or shares.

    • Lane · entry 16823
  • تَمَّمَ عَلَى الجَرِيحِ

    To hasten and finish the slaughter of a wounded person or animal; to make the killing certain.

    A specialized Form II construction concerning the completion or securing of a slaughter.

    • Lane · entry 16823
  • تَمَّمَ

    To cause a fracture to become complete, so that a crack develops or the broken parts separate.

    Used of a fracture or bone; it can describe a pre-existing injury becoming worse through further breaking.

    • Lane · entry 16823
  • تَمَّمَ المولود

    To hang an amulet or protective charm on a newborn or young child.

    The related expression تَمَّمْتُ عَنْهُ العَيْنَ means repelling the evil eye from someone by hanging such an amulet.

    • Lane · entry 16823
  • تَمَّمَ

    To adopt the outlook, affiliation, or settlement of the tribe of Tamīm; to claim kinship with it.

    A Form II social and tribal-affiliation use.

    • Lane · entry 16823
  • تَامَّ

    To vie or contend with another in completeness or perfection.

    A Form III reciprocal construction concerning competition in excellence or completeness.

    • Lane · entry 16824
  • أَتَمَّ

    To become tall and full-grown, or to reach full height and blossom.

    Used of a plant as a Form IV growth development.

    • Lane · entry 16825
  • أَتَمَّتْ

    To complete the period of gestation or become near to giving birth.

    Used of a pregnant woman or she-camel in this specialized Form IV construction.

    • Lane · entry 16825
  • أَتَمَّهُ

    To give someone the remaining material needed to complete a woven web.

    The material consists of tufts or lengths of wool, camel hair, or similar fiber.

    • Lane · entry 16825
  • تَتَامُّوا

    To come together in full numbers, arriving all together or one after another.

    A Form VI use for a group that gathers into a complete company; it may also describe a group responding to a call and coming to someone.

    • Lane · entry 16827
  • اِسْتَتَمَّ النِّعْمَةَ

    To seek or request the completion of a benefit, boon, or favor.

    A Form X construction expressing seeking completion of a benefit.

    • Lane · entry 16828
  • اِسْتَتَمَّهُ

    To seek or request wool or camel hair needed to complete the weaving of a garment.

    A Form X construction involving a request for completing material.

    • Lane · entry 16828
  • تَمْتَمَةٌ

    Stammering, indistinct or hurried speech, especially repeated or confused articulation of ت and م.

    A specialized speech term covering reiteration, indistinct pronunciation, or rapid jabbering that is difficult to understand.

    • Lane · entry 16829
  • تِمٌّ

    A kind of hoe, axe-like implement, spade, or shovel.

    A separate nominal use of the vocalized form تِمٌّ.

    • Lane · entry 16832
  • تِمَّةٌ

    Shorn goat hair, camel hair, or wool used to complete the weaving of a garment.

    Also denotes the material given to someone as the missing portion needed to finish a web.

    • Lane · entry 16834
  • تَمَامٌ

    The fullness of the moon; a full moon or the night of its completion.

    Conventional expressions use the noun for the full, brightly shining moon and its full-moon night.

    • Lane · entry 16837
  • لَيْلُ التِّمَامِ

    The longest or a very long winter night; by extension, a night that is long or tedious.

    A conventional expression with a specialized nocturnal meaning, distinct from the ordinary abstract sense of completion.

    • Lane · entry 16837
  • تَمَامًا

    Completion or carrying through of a statement, including keeping to one's word without retracting.

    Used in an idiomatic expression about refusing anything except completion of what was said or intended.

    • Lane · entry 16837
  • تَمَامٌ

    A complement or supplement whose addition completes a thing or makes up its full amount.

    Used for the missing addition that completes a number, collection, book, or other whole.

    • Lane · entry 16837
  • تَمِيمٌ

    Strong, firm, hard, or complete and perfect in make or formation.

    Applied especially to a man or horse in descriptions of strength and well-formedness.

    • Lane · entry 16840
  • تَمِيمٌ

    Tall.

    A reported adjectival use applied to a man.

    • Lane · entry 16840
  • تُمَامَةٌ

    A remainder or remaining portion of something.

    A nominal use for what is left over.

    • Lane · entry 16842
  • تَمِيمَةٌ

    An amulet, bead, or charm hung on a person as protection, especially against the evil eye.

    The term may refer to the bead or necklace itself; the practice is described as one believed to complete or protect a child’s condition.

    • Lane · entry 16843
  • تَمْتَامٌ

    A person who stammers, repeats the letter ت, or speaks so rapidly and indistinctly that others have difficulty understanding.

    The noun denotes a person characterized by the speech defect called تَمْتَمَةٌ.

    • Lane · entry 16845
  • تَامٌّ

    Complete, entire, whole, full, consummate, or perfect.

    An adjective of completeness or perfection, including descriptions of a complete formation and of a faultless sentence or oath; it can also convey complete or wholly assigned possession in context.

    • Lane · entry 16846
    • Lane · entry 16847
  • جَذَعٌ تَامٌّ

    Having completed the growth stage designated by a particular age term and reached the next stage.

    A technical age description for livestock, including a goat or bull at a specified transitional stage.

    • Lane · entry 16847
  • مُتَمٌّ

    The place where the vein or cord of the navel is cut or terminates.

    A specialized anatomical noun.

    • Lane · entry 16849
  • مُتِمٌّ

    A pregnant female that has completed the days of gestation or is near the point of giving birth.

    A specialized active-participial description applied to a woman or she-camel, distinct from the Quranic agentive use of مُتِمّ.

    • Lane · entry 16850
  • مُتَمِّمٌ

    In maysir, one whose winning arrow repeatedly succeeds and who feeds the poor, or who takes the remainder to complete the shares.

    A specialized maysir term for completing the distribution from the slaughtered camel.

    • Lane · entry 16851
  • الجَهَالَةُ المُسْتَتَمَّةُ

    Consummate or complete ignorance.

    A fixed adjectival expression; the source notes an orthographic distinction from المُسْتَتِمَّةُ.

    • Lane · entry 16852
  • مُسْتَتِمٌّ

    One who seeks wool or camel hair with which to complete the weaving of a garment.

    An active participle describing the person seeking the missing material for a web.

    • Lane · entry 16853

Cautions

Points that affect how this root should be read.

  • Lane's primary material is indexed under the contracted heading تم, while the canonical QAC root is تمم; the lexical evidence has been assigned using the supplied root match.

  • The English contextual variants “complete,” “fulfill,” and “perfect” are treated as contextual realizations of the completion branch, with constructional distinctions stated where the lexical evidence supports them.