dam Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a barrier constructed to contain the flow of water or to keep out the sea
    dike; dyke.
  2. noun a metric unit of length equal to ten meters
    dekameter; decameter; dekametre; dkm; decametre.
  3. noun female parent of an animal especially domestic livestock
  4. verb obstruct with, or as if with, a dam
    dam up.
    • dam the gorges of the Yangtse River

WordNet

Dam noun
Etymology
OE. dame mistress, lady; also, mother, dam. See Dame.
Definitions
  1. A female parent; -- used of beasts, especially of quadrupeds; sometimes applied in contempt to a human mother.
    Our sire and dam, now confined to horses, are a relic of this age (13th century) . . . .Dame is used of a hen; we now make a great difference between dame and dam. T. L. K. Oliphant.
    The dam runs lowing up end down, Looking the way her harmless young one went. Shak.
  2. A kind or crowned piece in the game of draughts.
Dam noun
Etymology
Akin to OLG., D., & Dan. dam, G. & Sw. damm, Icel. dammr, and AS. fordemman to stop up, Goth. Faúrdammjan.
Definitions
  1. A barrier to prevent the flow of a liquid; esp., a bank of earth, or wall of any kind, as of masonry or wood, built across a water course, to confine and keep back flowing water.
  2. (Metal.) A firebrick wall, or a stone, which forms the front of the hearth of a blast furnace.
Dam transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Dammed ; present participle & verbal noun Damming
Definitions
  1. To obstruct or restrain the flow of, by a dam; to confine by constructing a dam, as a stream of water; -- generally used with in or up.
    I'll have the current in this place dammed up. Shak.
    A weight of earth that dams in the water. Mortimer.
  2. To shut up; to stop up; to close; to restrain.
    The strait pass was dammed With dead men hurt behind, and cowards. Shak.

Webster 1913