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

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

Noun (1)

• dike
• embankment
• head
• levee

Verb

• block
• choke
• clog
• clot
• congest
• gum (up)
• jam
• obstruct
• occlude
• plug (up)
• stop (up)
• stuff

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

Water managers in the upper basin states have come under criticism recently from environmentalists and officials in other states for moving ahead with plans for new dams and diversions that would take more water from the river. —Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2024

These updates aim to extend the operational life of the 61-year-old dam, which is a cornerstone of water management in the Colorado River Basin. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2024

Verb

This recent catch is especially notable because the species population is believed to have dropped by at least 95% in the last century, according to National Geographic, as a result of overfishing, damming, siltation, and destruction of spawning and breeding grounds. —Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024

Envisioning a New and Undiscovered River Historical and scientific records yield only a few clues about what the Klamath River was like before it was dammed. —Kelly Bastone, Outside Online, 24 Nov. 2024

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

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