Adam

[ad-uhm, a-dahn]

noun

1. the name of the first man, according to the Bible: husband of Eve and progenitor of the human race.

2. Adolphe Charles 1803–56, French composer of comic opera and ballet music.

3. James, 1730–94, and his brother Robert, 1728–92, English architects and furniture designers.

4. Lambert Sigisbert 1700–59, and his brother Nicholas Sébastien 1705–78, French sculptors.

5. a first name.

adjective

1. of or relating to the style of architecture, decoration, or furnishings associated with Robert and James Adam, characterized by free adaptation of ancient Roman forms and interiors treated with delicate ornament generally painted in light, vivid colors.

Adam

¹

/ ˈædəm /

noun

1. Old Testament the first man, created by God: the progenitor of the human race (Genesis 2–3)

2. to have no knowledge of or acquaintance with someone

3. the evil supposedly inherent in human nature

Adam

²

noun

1. Adolphe. 1803–56, French composer, best known for his romantic ballet Giselle (1841)

2. Robert. 1728–92, Scottish architect and furniture designer. Assisted by his brother, James, 1730–94, he emulated the harmony of classical and Italian Renaissance architecture

adjective

1. in the neoclassical style made popular by Robert Adam

Word History and Origins

Origin of Adam¹

From the Hebrew word ādhām literally, “man”

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. not know from Adam, to be unacquainted with.

   He says hello to us every morning, but we don't know him from Adam.

2. the old Adam, the natural tendency toward sin.

   He attributed his wild outburst to the old Adam in him.

see not know from Adam.

Example Sentences

Adam Holmes, who owns a first aid training business and was staying at the hotel, said he gave advice on carrying out CPR.

Read more on BBC

Adam Posen, president of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said the bursting of the dot-com bubble didn’t spill over and damage the financial system and the economy.

Read more on MarketWatch

“As the market continues to rally, the bar for a market response has risen,” wrote Trivariate Research founder Adam Parker in his analysis from last week.

Read more on Barron's

The concept of releasing multiple album variants “amped up a lot in recent years,” said Adam Abramson, a former major-label sales guru who now runs his own sales and streaming consultancy.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Adam Dai, founder of fireworks exporter Miracle Fireworks, based in the central Chinese province of Hunan, said a few American customers have already reached out and asked that their shipments be held.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal