slam

¹

[slam]

verb (used with or without object)

slammed, slamming 

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. Slang.,  Usually the slam slammer.

4. Informal.,  a harsh criticism; verbal attack.

   I am sick of your slams.

5. Informal.

   1. Also called poetry 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.

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. 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

slam

³

/ slæm /

noun

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

Other Word Forms

• unslammed 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

C17: of uncertain origin

Origin of slam³

C20: origin unknown

Example Sentences

Smith slammed a beer can over Jackson’s head.

From Los Angeles Times

Keith is also driving down the road, but slams on his brakes and leaps out of his truck when he sees Adebayo.

From Salon

After Austin Hays bounced a grounder to Betts that the shortstop threw home for a forceout, Yamamoto slammed the door with back-to-back strikeouts.

From Los Angeles Times

The author took to social media Monday to share a lengthy post slamming Emma Watson, who on a podcast recently addressed her own feelings about their rift.

From Los Angeles Times

That all changed last October when Freddie Freeman matched Gibson’s dramatics with a Game 1 grand slam to beat the New York Yankees.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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