Printer Friendly
The Free Dictionary
898,162,761 visitors served.
?
Dictionary/
thesaurus
Medical
dictionary
Legal
dictionary
Financial
dictionary
Acronyms
 
Idioms
Encyclopedia
Wikipedia
encyclopedia
?

dam

   Also found in: Medical, Legal, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.01 sec.
dam 1  (dm)
n.
1.
a. A barrier constructed across a waterway to control the flow or raise the level of water.
b. A body of water controlled by such a barrier.
2. A barrier against the passage of liquid or loose material, as a rubber sheet used in dentistry to isolate one or more teeth from the rest of the mouth.
3. An obstruction; a hindrance.
tr.v. dammed, dam·ming, dams
1. To hold back or confine by means of a dam.
2. To close up; obstruct: He tried to dam his grief. See Synonyms at hinder1.

[Middle English.]

dammer n.
click for a larger image
dam1

dam 2  (dm)
n.
1. Abbr. d. A female parent. Used of a four-legged animal.
2. Archaic A mother.

[Middle English dam, dame, lady, mother; see dame.]

dam 3
abbr.
decameter

dam 1
Noun
1. a barrier built across a river to create a lake
2. a lake created by such a barrier
Verb
[damming, dammed]
to block up (a river) by a dam [probably from Middle Low German]

dam 2
Noun
the female parent of an animal such as a sheep or horse [variant of dame]

dam 3 decametre(s)
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.dam - a barrier constructed to contain the flow of water or to keep out the sea
barrier - a structure or object that impedes free movement
milldam - dam to make a millpond to provide power for a water mill
weir - a low dam built across a stream to raise its level or divert its flow
2.dam - a metric unit of length equal to ten meters
metric linear unit - a linear unit of distance in metric terms
m, meter, metre - the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)
hectometer, hectometre, hm - a metric unit of length equal to 100 meters
3.dam - female parent of an animal especially domestic livestock
female - an animal that produces gametes (ova) that can be fertilized by male gametes (spermatozoa)
Verb1.dam - obstruct with, or as if with, a dam; "dam the gorges of the Yangtse River"
obturate, occlude, close up, impede, obstruct, jam, block - block passage through; "obstruct the path"

dam
verb 2. block up, block, hold in, restrict, check, confine, choke, hold back, barricade, obstruct
Translations
Spanish dam [dæm] npresa (= reservoir); embalse
vtembalsar

French dam [dæm] n (= wall) → barrage m (= water); réservoir m, lac m de retenue
vtendiguer

German dam [dæm] n(Stau)damm m;
(reservoir) → Stausee m
vtstauen

Italian dam [dæm] ndiga (= reservoir); bacino artificiale
vtsbarrare; costruire dighe su

?Page tools
Printer friendly
Cite / link
Email
Feedback
Add definition
? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
There was no use of interrupting them, for, having taken a particular direction, nothing can moderate and change their course; it is a torrent of living flesh which no dam could contain.
"It's as if a dam had burst," said the Cossack hopelessly.
The trail led straight to a small dam where was the intake for the pipe that watered the vegetable garden.
 
Dictionary/thesaurus browser? ? Full browser
 
 
Dictionary, Thesaurus, and Translations
?

Disclaimer | Privacy policy | Feedback | Copyright © 2008 Farlex, Inc.
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. Terms of Use.