lamb

[ lam ]

/ læm /

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noun

a young sheep.

the meat of a young sheep.

a person who is gentle, meek, innocent, etc.: Their little daughter is such a lamb.

a person who is easily cheated or outsmarted, especially an inexperienced speculator.

the Lamb, Christ.

verb (used without object)

to give birth to a lamb.

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

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Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

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Origin of lamb

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English; cognate with Dutch lam, German Lamm, Old Norse, Gothic lamb; akin to Greek élaphos “deer”; see elk

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH lamb

lam, lamb

Words nearby lamb

Lamartine, Lamas, lamasery, Lamaze, Lamaze method, lamb, lambada, Lambaréné, lambast, lambaste, lambasted

Other definitions for lamb (2 of 2)

Lamb

[ lam ]

/ læm /

noun

Charles "Elia", 1775–1834, English essayist and critic.

Harold A., 1892–1962, U.S. novelist.

Mary Ann, 1764–1847, English author who wrote in collaboration with her brother Charles Lamb.

William, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, 1779–1848, English statesman: prime minister 1834, 1835–41.

Willis E(ugene), Jr., 1913–2008, U.S. physicist: Nobel Prize 1955.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use lamb in a sentence

At Nai Tapas in New York, the Thanksgiving menu is Spanish, with Catalan-style toasted paella, while Lebanese Taverna in Arlington, Virginia, is offering customers the choice of a roast turkey or a garlic-thyme lamb shoulder for the main event.
There’s Never Been a Better Year to Do a Takeout Thanksgiving|Brenna Houck|November 23, 2020|Eater
Lamb’s came in the first half and gave the Cowboys a 13-7 lead.
AFC South thrives and the Steelers stay unbeaten in NFL Week 11|Cindy Boren, Mark Maske, Des Bieler|November 23, 2020|Washington Post
Ideal food pairings include glazed duck breast with spices or braised lamb shoulder with Sichuan sauce.
The best wines for Thanksgiving|Rachel King|November 21, 2020|Fortune
Lamb said in an interview last week that the specific server he identified has since been taken offline.
Officials stress security of election systems after U.S. reveals new Iranian and Russian efforts|Amy Gardner, Isaac Stanley-Becker, Elise Viebeck|October 29, 2020|Washington Post

With their research, Kobel and Lamb were able to publish a gentrification topology outlining all the areas in Portland that are vulnerable to gentrification and displacement.
The Stages of Gentrification, as Told by Restaurant Openings|Vince Dixon|September 30, 2020|Eater
The freezer is filled with meat, sides of beef and large pieces of lamb.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In her white prom dress, Carrie is like a lamb to the slaughter, the blood besmirching her innocence.
Sex, Blood and Maroon 5: Pop Culture’s Wounds Run Deep|Lizzie Crocker|October 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I must have had lamb and potatoes 180 times since I have been here.
Why The Queen Hates Mobile Phone Waving Crowds|Tom Sykes|September 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Families were sitting picnic-style, meals of lamb and rice on large plates, scooped up with the flat bread nan.
Fighting Back With Faith: Inside the Yezidis’ Iraqi Temple|Michael Luongo|August 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Even Garnet's gyro wrap is made with McLane farms seasoned lamb.
Spaghetti for Breakfast?! Not So Crazy at This Idaho Farm Café|Jane & Michael Stern|August 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Young Lamb's big cigar has been out long ago; but he pulls hard at it, wholly unaware of the fact.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
Young Lamb has already paid several visits to Mr. Levison's little table.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
Lamb fills his case, and lights this the ne plus ultra of a soothing weed.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
Lamb with shaking fingers places the required amount in front of him.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
The perspiration stands on young Lamb's face; again his cigar goes out.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills

British Dictionary definitions for lamb (1 of 3)

lamb

/ (læm) /

noun

the young of a sheep

the meat of a young sheep

a person, esp a child, who is innocent, meek, good, etc

a person easily deceived

like a lamb to the slaughter

without resistance
innocently

verb

Also: lamb down (intr) (of a ewe) to give birth

(tr; used in the passive) (of a lamb) to be born

(intr) (of a shepherd) to tend the ewes and newborn lambs at lambing time

Derived forms of lamb

lamblike, adjective

Word Origin for lamb

Old English lamb, from Germanic; compare German Lamm, Old High German and Old Norse lamb

British Dictionary definitions for lamb (2 of 3)

Lamb¹

/ (læm) /

noun

the Lamb a title given to Christ in the New Testament

British Dictionary definitions for lamb (3 of 3)

Lamb²

/ (læm) /

noun

Charles, pen name Elia. 1775–1834, English essayist and critic. He collaborated with his sister Mary on Tales from Shakespeare (1807). His other works include Specimens of English Dramatic Poets (1808) and the largely autobiographical essays collected in Essays of Elia (1823; 1833)

William. See (2nd Viscount) Melbourne 2

Willis Eugene. 1913–2008, US physicist. He detected the small difference in energy between two states of the hydrogen atom (Lamb shift). Nobel prize for physics 1955

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with lamb

lamb

see hanged for a sheep (as a lamb); in two shakes (of a lamb's tail); like a lamb to the slaughter.

lamb

Origin of lamb

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH lamb

Words nearby lamb

Other definitions for lamb (2 of 2)

Words related to lamb

How to use lamb in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for lamb (1 of 3)

Derived forms of lamb

Word Origin for lamb

British Dictionary definitions for lamb (2 of 3)

British Dictionary definitions for lamb (3 of 3)

Other Idioms and Phrases with lamb