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
Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 17 June 2025
Ford recently issued a recall because of a software bug affecting rearview camera displays, as faulty reverse cams could potentially lead to a crash.
—Charles Singh, USA Today, 6 June 2025
One couple hoping that crate training their puppy named Nala would help with her separation anxiety had a revelation about themselves while watching the dog on their pet cam while out to dinner.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 June 2025
Quality action cameras and high-end trail cams can cost $60-$200.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for cam
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Noun
The entire system takes around 20 minutes to install and connects seamlessly with other Ring gear like video doorbells and floodlight cams.
—Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 17 June 2025
Ford recently issued a recall because of a software bug affecting rearview camera displays, as faulty reverse cams could potentially lead to a crash.
—Charles Singh, USA Today, 6 June 2025
One couple hoping that crate training their puppy named Nala would help with her separation anxiety had a revelation about themselves while watching the dog on their pet cam while out to dinner.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 June 2025
Quality action cameras and high-end trail cams can cost $60-$200.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 2 June 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 1 Jul. 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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