DAM


Meaning of DAM in English

/ dæm; NAmE / noun , verb

■ noun

1.

a barrier that is built across a river in order to stop the water from flowing, used especially to make a reservoir (= a lake for storing water) or to produce electricity

2.

( technical ) the mother of some animals, especially horses

—compare sire

3.

= dental dam

■ verb

( -mm- ) [ vn ] dam sth (up) to build a dam across a river, especially in order to make an artificial lake for use as a water supply, etc.

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WORD ORIGIN

noun sense 1 and verb Middle English : from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch ; related to Dutch dam and German Damm , also to Old English fordemman close up .

noun sense 2 late Middle English (denoting a human mother): alteration of dame .

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.