dam
1[ dam ]
/ dæm /
noun
a barrier to obstruct the flow of water, especially one of earth, masonry, etc., built across a stream or river.
a body of water confined by a dam.
any barrier resembling a dam.
verb (used with object), dammed, dam·ming.
to furnish with a dam; obstruct or confine with a dam.
to stop up; block up.
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Question 1 of 9
“I do believe that the buck stops here, that I cannot rely upon public opinion polls to tell me what is right. I do believe that right makes might and that if I am wrong, 10 angels swearing I was right would make no difference.”
Origin of dam
11275–1325; Middle English <Middle Dutch, Middle Low German, dam; akin to Old English for-demman to stop up, block
Words nearby dam
Definition for dam (2 of 4)
dam2
[ dam ]
/ dæm /
noun
a female parent (used especially of four-footed domestic animals).
Origin of dam
21250–1300; Middle English; variant of dame
Definition for dam (3 of 4)
dam3
abbreviation
dekameter; dekameters.
Definition for dam (4 of 4)
Dam
[ dam, dahm ]
/ dæm, dɑm /
noun
(Carl Pe·ter) Hen·rik [kahrl -pee-ter -hen-rik; Danish kahrl -pey-tuhr -hen-rik], /kɑrl ˈpi tɛr ˈhɛn rɪk; Danish kɑrl ˈpeɪ tər ˈhɛn rɪk/, 1895–1976, Danish biochemist: Nobel Prize in Medicine 1943.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for dam
British Dictionary definitions for dam (1 of 5)
dam1
/ (dæm) /
noun
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
a reservoir of water created by such a barrier
something that resembles or functions as a dam
verb dams, damming or dammed
(tr often foll by up) to obstruct or restrict by or as if by a dam
Word Origin for dam
C12: probably from Middle Low German; compare Old Icelandic damma to block up
British Dictionary definitions for dam (2 of 5)
dam2
/ (dæm) /
noun
the female parent of an animal, esp of domestic livestock
Word Origin for dam
C13: variant of dame
British Dictionary definitions for dam (3 of 5)
dam3
/ (dæm) /
interjection, adverb, adjective
(often used in combination) a variant spelling of damn (def. 1), damn (def. 2), damn (def. 3), damn (def. 4) damfool; dammit
British Dictionary definitions for dam (4 of 5)
dam4
symbol for
decametre(s)
British Dictionary definitions for dam (5 of 5)
Dam
/ (Danish dam) /
noun
(Carl Peter) Henrik (ˈhɛnrəɡ). 1895–1976, Danish biochemist who discovered vitamin K (1934): Nobel prize for physiology or medicine 1943
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Medical definitions for dam (1 of 2)
dam
[ dăm ]
n.
A barrier against the passage of liquid or loose material, especially a rubber sheet used in dentistry to isolate one or more teeth from the rest of the mouth.
Medical definitions for dam (2 of 2)
Dam
[ dăm, däm ]
Danish biochemist. He shared a 1943 Nobel Prize for the discovery of vitamin K.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Idioms and Phrases with dam
dam
see water over the dam.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.