dam

noun (1)

Definition of dam

(Entry 1 of 5)

1a : a barrier preventing the flow of water or of loose solid materials (such as soil or snow) a beaver dam an ice dam especially, civil engineering : a barrier built across a watercourse for impounding (see impound sense 2) water

b : a barrier to check the flow of liquid, gas, or air

2 : a body of water confined by a barrier

dam

verb

dammed; damming

Definition of dam (Entry 2 of 5)

transitive verb

1 : to provide or restrain with a barrier that prevents the flow of water : to provide or restrain with a dam (see dam entry 1 sense 1a) dam a river

2 : to stop up : block damming up their emotions

dam

noun (2)

\ ˈdam

Definition of dam (Entry 3 of 5)

zoology : the female parent of an animal and especially of a domestic animal the foal's dam

dam

abbreviation

Definition of dam (Entry 4 of 5)

dekameter

Dam

biographical name

\ ˈdam

, ˈdäm\

Definition of Dam (Entry 5 of 5)

(Carl Peter) Henrik 1895–1976 Danish biochemist

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Examples of dam in a Sentence

Verb

ice floes were damming the river

History and Etymology for dam

Noun (1) and Verb

Middle English, probably from Middle Dutch; akin to Old English fordemman to stop up

Noun (2)

Middle English dam, dame lady, dam — more at dame

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Time Traveler for dam

The first known use of dam was in the 13th century

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More Definitions for dam

dam

verb

English Language Learners Definition of dam

: to build a dam across (a river or stream)

See the full definition for dam in the English Language Learners Dictionary

dam

noun

\ ˈdam

Kids Definition of dam

(Entry 1 of 3)

: the female parent of a domestic animal (as a dog or horse)

dam

noun

Kids Definition of dam (Entry 2 of 3)

: a barrier (as across a stream) to hold back a flow of water

dam

verb

dammed; damming

Kids Definition of dam (Entry 3 of 3)

: to hold back or block with or as if with a dam Leaves dammed the drains.

dam

noun

\ ˈdam

Medical Definition of dam

(Entry 1 of 3)

: a female parent —used especially of a domestic animal

dam

noun

Medical Definition of dam (Entry 2 of 3)

: rubber dam — see dental dam

dam

abbreviation

Medical Definition of dam (Entry 3 of 3)

dekameter

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adversary

an enemy or opponent

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dam

Definition of dam

Synonyms & Antonyms for dam

Examples of dam in a Sentence

First Known Use of dam

History and Etymology for dam

Learn More about dam

Dictionary Entries near dam

Statistics for dam

The first known use of dam was in the 13th century

English Language Learners Definition of dam

Kids Definition of dam