/ læm; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ C ] a young sheep
2.
[ U ] meat from a young sheep :
a leg of lamb
lamb chops
—compare mutton
3.
[ C ] ( informal ) used to describe or address sb with affection or pity :
You poor lamb!
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IDIOMS
- (like) a lamb / lambs to the slaughter
—more at mutton , well adverb
■ verb
[ v ] ( of a sheep ) to give birth to a lamb
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch lam and German Lamm .