A pet to many? (3)
I believe the answer is:
tom
'a pet' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both animals as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'to many?' is the wordplay.
'many?' becomes 'm' (Roman numeral for a thousand).
'to'+'m'='TOM'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for tom that I've seen before include "Male feline" , "famous schoolboy" , "Cruise" , "Pig-stealing piper's son" , "Waits, perhaps" .)