ham

ham  (hm)

n.

1. The thigh of the hind leg of certain animals, especially a hog.

2. A cut of meat from the thigh of a hog.

3. The back of the knee.

4. The back of the thigh.

5. hams The buttocks.

6. A performer who overacts or exaggerates.

7. A licensed amateur radio operator.

v. hammed, ham·ming, hams

v.intr.

To overact.

v.tr.

To exaggerate or overdo (a dramatic role, for example).

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[Middle English hamme, from Old English hamm. N., senses 6 and 7, possibly from ham-fatter, a poor or amateurish actor.]

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ham ¹

Noun

smoked or salted meat from a pig's thigh [Old English hamm]

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ham ²

Noun

1. Informal an amateur radio operator

2. Theatre informal an actor who overacts and exaggerates the emotions and gestures of a part

Adjective

(of actors or their performances) exaggerated and overstated

Verb

[hamming, hammed]

ham it up Informal to overact [special use of ham¹]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	ham - meat cut from the thigh of a hog (usually smoked) gammon, jambon cut of pork - cut of meat from a hog or pig Virginia ham - a lean hickory-smoked ham; has dark red meat prosciutto - Italian salt-cured ham usually sliced paper thin
	2.	Ham - (Old Testament) son of Noah Old Testament - the collection of books comprising the sacred scripture of the Hebrews and recording their history as the chosen people; the first half of the Christian Bible
	3.	ham - a licensed amateur radio operator radio operator - someone who operates a radio transmitter
	4.	ham - an unskilled actor who overacts ham actor actor, histrion, thespian, role player, player - a theatrical performer
Verb	1.	ham - exaggerate one's acting ham it up, overact, overplay dramatic art, dramaturgy, theater, theatre, dramatics - the art of writing and producing plays playact, roleplay, act, play - perform on a stage or theater; "She acts in this play"; "He acted in `Julius Caesar'"; "I played in `A Christmas Carol'"

Translations

ham [hæm] n → jamón m (cocido);

(col) (also: radio ham) → radioaficionado/a m/f: (also: ham actor) → comicastro

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ham [hæm] n → jambon m;

(inf) (also: radio ham) → radio-amateur m;

(also: ham actor) → cabotin(e)

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ham [hæm] n → Schinken m;

(inf) (also: radio ham) → Funkamateur m;

(000) (actor) → Schmierenkomödiant(in) m(f)

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ham [hæm] n → prosciutto;

(col) (also: radio ham) → radioamatore/trice;

(also: ham actor) → attore/trice senza talento