dam

¹

[dam]

noun

1. a barrier to obstruct the flow of water, especially one of earth, masonry, etc., built across a stream or river.

2. a body of water confined by a dam.

3. any barrier resembling a dam.

verb (used with object)

dammed, damming 

1. to furnish with a dam; obstruct or confine with a dam.

2. to stop up; block up.

   Synonyms: choke, check, clog, impede

dam

²

[dam]

noun

1. a female parent (used especially of four-footed domestic animals).

dam

³

abbreviation

1. dekameter; dekameters.

Dam

⁴

[dam, dahm]

noun

1. (Carl Peter) Henrik 1895–1976, Danish biochemist: Nobel Prize in Medicine 1943.

dam

¹

/ dæm /

noun

1. a barrier of concrete, earth, etc, built across a river to create a body of water for a hydroelectric power station, domestic water supply, etc

2. a reservoir of water created by such a barrier

3. something that resembles or functions as a dam

verb

1. to obstruct or restrict by or as if by a dam

Dam

²

/ dam /

noun

1. ( Carl Peter ) Henrik (ˈhɛnrəɡ). 1895–1976, Danish biochemist who discovered vitamin K (1934): Nobel prize for physiology or medicine 1943

dam

³

/ dæm /

noun

1. the female parent of an animal, esp of domestic livestock

dam

⁴

/ dæm /

interjection

1. (often used in combination) a variant spelling of damn damn damn damn

   damfool

   dammit

dam

⁵

symbol

1. decametre(s)

Word History and Origins

Origin of dam¹

1275–1325; Middle English < Middle Dutch, Middle Low German, dam; akin to Old English for-demman to stop up, block

Origin of dam²

1250–1300; Middle English; variant of dame

Word History and Origins

Origin of dam¹

C12: probably from Middle Low German; compare Old Icelandic damma to block up

Origin of dam²

C13: variant of _dame

Idioms and Phrases

see water over the dam.

Example Sentences

"This isn't a little dam, or just a regular dam - this is a great dam against progressivism," he declared.

From BBC

Some geologists have described the breach as a "tsunami from the mountains", as an estimated 15.4 million tonnes of water – equivalent to 6,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools – were released when the dam burst.

From BBC

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr himself acknowledged this as a continuing challenge on a visit to inspect a flood control dam that he then found did not exist.

From BBC

In the court papers the farmers said they had learned that the water was highly toxic only several days after the tailings dam had collapsed.

From BBC

They called for the Interior Department, which oversees the dams and management of the river, to “take immediate action.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bank 
• barrier 
• dike 
• ditch 
• gate 
• levee