dam1

[dam] /dæm/
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.
4.
to furnish with a dam; obstruct or confine with a dam.
5.
to stop up; block up.
Origin
1275-1325; Middle English < Middle Dutch, Middle Low German, dam; akin to Old English for-demman to stop up, block
Synonyms
5. impede, clog, check, choke.

dam2

[dam] /dæm/
noun
1.
a female parent (used especially of four-footed domestic animals).
Origin
1250-1300; Middle English; variant of dame

Dam

[dam, dahm] /dæm, dɑm/
noun
1.
(Carl Peter) Henrik
[kahrl pee-ter hen-rik;; Danish kahrl pey-tuh r hen-rik] /kɑrl ˈpi tɛr ˈhɛn rɪk;; Danish kɑrl ˈpeɪ tər ˈhɛn rɪk/ (Show IPA), 1895–1976, Danish biochemist: Nobel Prize in Medicine 1943.

dam

1.
dekameter; dekameters.
Examples from the web for dam
  • Ordinarily the wall would serve as a dam, blocking the flow of both electrolyte and electric current.
  • The story of any big dam is that of unintended consequences.
  • dam building has experienced a resurgence, while at the same time a dam removal movement is gaining momentum in some areas.
  • The miller is at home near his millstones and beside his dam.
  • Even on a single-crust pie, crimping can create a helpful dam effect.
  • After a decade of legal wrangling, plans for the dam were officially abandoned.
  • The oldest dam was installed more than a century ago.
  • Try to dam its movement at one point, and slowly but remorselessly it will find its way around.
  • Unfortunately, overfishing and dam construction have decimated paddlefish populations.
  • Hydroelectric includes the danger of drowning or dam failure.
British Dictionary definitions for dam

dam1

/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 dams, damming, dammed
4.
(transitive) often foll by up. to obstruct or restrict by or as if by a dam
Word Origin
C12: probably from Middle Low German; compare Old Icelandic damma to block up

dam2

/dæm/
noun
1.
the female parent of an animal, esp of domestic livestock
Word Origin
C13: variant of dame

dam3

/dæm/
interjection, adverb, adjective
1.
(often used in combination) a variant spelling of damn (sense 1), damn (sense 2), damn (sense 3), damn (sense 4) damfool, dammit

dam4

symbol
1.
decametre(s)

Dam

/Danish dam/
noun
1.
(Carl Peter) Henrik (ˈhɛnrəɡ). 1895–1976, Danish biochemist who discovered vitamin K (1934): Nobel prize for physiology or medicine 1943
Word Origin and History for dam
n.

"water barrier," early 14c., probably from Old Norse dammr or Middle Dutch dam, both from Proto-Germanic *dammaz (cf. Old Frisian damm, German Damm), of unknown origin.

"animal mother," c.1300, variant of dame (q.v.), also originally used, like that word, for "lady, mother;" but meanings diverged into separate spellings by 16c.

v.

late 15c., from dam (n.1). Related: Dammed; damming.

dam in Medicine

dam (dām)
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.

Dam (dām, däm), (Carl Peter) Henrik. 1895-1976.

Danish biochemist. He shared a 1943 Nobel Prize for the discovery of vitamin K.

Related Abbreviations for dam

dam

decameter

DAM

  1. diacetylmonoxime
  2. divorced Asian male
Idioms and Phrases with dam

dam

see: water over the dam