slam

¹

[ slam ]

verb (used with or without object)

, slammed, slam·ming.

1. to shut with force and noise:

   to slam the door.

2. to dash, strike, knock, thrust, throw, slap down, etc., with violent and noisy impact:

   He slammed his books upon the table.

3. Informal. to criticize harshly; attack verbally:

   He slammed my taste mercilessly.

noun

1. a violent and noisy closing, dashing, or impact.
2. the noise so made.
3. Usually the slam. Slang. slammer ( def 2 ).
4. Informal. a harsh criticism; verbal attack:

   I am sick of your slams.

5. Informal.
   1. Also called poetry slam. a competitive, usually boisterous poetry reading.
   2. a usually competitive performance involving multiple performers with short acts: a tap dance slam.

      puppet slams;

      a tap dance slam.

slam

²

[ slam ]

noun

, Cards.

1. the winning or bidding of all the tricks or all the tricks but one in a deal. Compare grand slam ( def 1 ), little slam.
2. an old type of card game associated with ruff.

slam

¹

/ slæm /

verb

1. to cause (a door or window) to close noisily and with force or (of a door, etc) to close in this way
2. tr to throw (something) down noisily and violently
3. slang.
   tr to criticize harshly
4. informal.
   intr; usually foll by into or out of to go (into or out of a room, etc) in violent haste or anger
5. tr to strike with violent force
6. informal.
   tr to defeat easily

noun

1. the act or noise of slamming
2. slang.
   harsh criticism or abuse

slam

²

/ slæm /

noun

1. a poetry contest in which entrants compete with each other by reciting their work and are awarded points by the audience

slam

³

/ slæm /

noun

1. 1. the winning of all (grand slam) or all but one (little slam or small slam) of the 13 tricks at bridge or whist
   2. the bid to do so in bridge See grand slam little slam
2. an old card game

Other Words From

• un·slammed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of slam¹

First recorded in 1650–60; perhaps from Scandinavian; compare Icelandic, Norwegian, Swedish slamra “to bang (a door), slam”

Origin of slam²

First recorded in 1660–70; perhaps special use of slam ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of slam¹

C17: of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse slamra, Norwegian slemma, Swedish dialect slämma

Origin of slam²

C20: origin unknown

Origin of slam³

C17: of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

That may be, but experts say that “similarities” to other attacks is hardly a slam dunk.

From The Daily Beast

The bar also claims that it hosted the first-ever poetry slam 28 years ago.

From The Daily Beast

And the information that the FBI has presented so far strikes many experts as hardly a slam dunk against Pyongyang.

From The Daily Beast

Apparently, 2016 is not shaping up as a Democratic slam dunk.

From The Daily Beast

If the President is seeking a way to court Republicans, alcohol is a slam-drunk.

From The Daily Beast

She glanced uneasily at Gwynne and fancied she could hear him slam the lid of his breeding upon a supercilious sputter.

From Project Gutenberg

Expectantly I follow his movements; I recognize the vigorous slam of the door and the click of the spring lock.

From Project Gutenberg

Something in the way she said it made it sound like a little slam on the boss, and of course I wasn't going to stand for that.

From Project Gutenberg

Into the hut bounded Frank, and the door went to with a slam.

From Project Gutenberg

After eating the supper Madge prepared for him, he shuffled out, permitting the kitchen door to slam behind him.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bang
• bat
• batter
• beat
• belt
• blast
• crash
• dash
• fling
• hit
• hurl
• knock
• slap
• smash
• strike
• swat