1
: a rotating or sliding piece (such as an eccentric wheel or a cylinder with an irregular shape) in a mechanical linkage used especially in transforming rotary motion into linear motion or vice versa
2
: camshaft
an engine with a single overhead cam
: camera
especially
: video camera
1
computer-aided manufacturing
2
complementary and alternative medicine
Examples of cam in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Erin Udell, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
Imagine if Uncle Bob had a nanny cam embedded in that huge taxidermied leopard.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Jacques said the department confirmed the recent sighting by evaluating the trail cam footage and observing the wild cat’s tracks.
—Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 21 Apr. 2025
The incident was captured on the Uber driver’s dash cam, which is now part of the court case in Denmark, Pelton told CNN.
—Lisa Klaassen, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cam
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Noun
That cam was up and running each summer since and was switched back on last year in July.
—Erin Udell, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
Imagine if Uncle Bob had a nanny cam embedded in that huge taxidermied leopard.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Jacques said the department confirmed the recent sighting by evaluating the trail cam footage and observing the wild cat’s tracks.
—Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 21 Apr. 2025
The incident was captured on the Uber driver’s dash cam, which is now part of the court case in Denmark, Pelton told CNN.
—Lisa Klaassen, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cam
Cite this Entry
“Cam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cam. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cam
1 of 2 noun
: a device by which circular motion may be transformed into stop-and-start or back-and-forth motion
cam
2 of 2 nounEtymology
Noun
perhaps from French came "cam," from German Kamm, literally, "comb"
Medical Definition
CAM
abbreviation2
complementary and alternative medicine
According to a 2002 survey by the National Center for Health Statistics, 36 percent of adults in the United States used some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), including naturopathy, relaxation techniques, chiropractic, yoga, massage, and diets.—In-Sung Yoo, The News Journal (Wilmington, Delaware)
In-Sung Yoo, The News Journal (Wilmington, Delaware)Geographical Definition
Cam
geographical name
river 40 miles (64 kilometers) long in Cambridgeshire, east central England, flowing into the Ouse River
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