dam

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈdam 

1

a

: 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

She went out to the edge of the dam for a drink.

—Dick King-Smith

dam

2 of 4

verb

dammed; damming

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

3 of 4

noun (2)

zoology : the female parent of an animal and especially of a domestic animal

the foal's dam

dam

4 of 4

abbreviation

dekameter

Synonyms of dam

Noun (1)

• levee
• embankment

Verb

• block
• obstruct
• flood

Examples of dam in a Sentence

Noun (1)

the river backed up behind the dam until it formed a new lake

Verb

ice floes were damming the river

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Set in the forests of Andhra Pradesh, southern India, during the mid-20th century, the film follows an ancient tribe struggling to maintain its traditional way of life as members are drawn toward modernity following the construction of a dam. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 13 Nov. 2025

Makatsaria notes that despite tensions, Special Ops filmed near the border with Abkhazia, using drones and a helicopter to capture a sweeping establishing shot over the 890-foot Enguri Dam — among the world’s tallest arch dams. —Dan Bilefsky, HollywoodReporter, 12 Nov. 2025

Verb

Calling everything worthless is a misguided attempt to dam the flood rather than channel it. —Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 8 Nov. 2025

Unlike many other beavers, these specific beavers were willing to dam a flashy urban stream. —Literary Hub, 19 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing dam

• air dam
• beaver dam
• tinker's dam

Rhymes for dam

• am
• bam
• cham
• clam
• damme
• damn
• dram
• flam
• fram
• gram
• ham
• jam

Kids Definition

dam

1 of 3 noun

ˈdam 

: the female parent especially of a domestic animal

dam

2 of 3 noun

1

: a barrier preventing the flow of water

2

: a body of water held back by a dam

dam

3 of 3 verb

dammed; damming

1

: to provide or restrain with a dam

dam a stream

2

: to stop up : block

dammed-up feelings

Etymology

Noun

Middle English dam, dame "lady, female parent"

Noun

Middle English dam "barrier to hold back water"

Medical Definition

dam

1 of 3 noun

ˈdam 

: a female parent

—used especially of a domestic animal

dam

2 of 3 noun

: rubber dam see dental dam

dam

3 of 3 abbreviation

dekameter

Biographical Definition

Dam

biographical name

ˈdam  ˈdäm 

(Carl Peter) Henrik 1895–1976 Danish biochemist