/ deɪm; NAmE / noun
1.
Dame (in Britain) a title given to a woman as a special honour because of the work she has done :
Dame Maggie Smith
2.
( old-fashioned , NAmE , informal ) a woman
3.
= pantomime dame
For more information see the Cultural Guide
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (denoting a female ruler): via Old French from Latin domina mistress.