dam

Pluraldams

Formsdams, damming, dammed

1. 1
   river barriernouncountable

   A wall built across a river to hold back or control the water.

   Like a big wall that stops a river from flowing past it.

   The dam holds back millions of gallons of water.

   Engineers built a new dam across the valley to prevent flooding.

   UsageSay a dam across a river. It sounds like damn.

   Similarbarrage

   Note
2. 2
   block waterverbtransitive

   To block or hold back flowing water with a barrier.

   Like putting your hand over a hose to stop the water.

   Beavers dam the stream with branches and mud.

   They dammed the river to create a lake.

   UsagePast form: dammed. Often dam up a river.

   Similarblock, obstruct

   Note
3. 3
   animal mothernouncountable

   The mother of an animal, especially one used for breeding.

   Like the word 'mom,' but used for animals such as horses or dogs.

   The foal stayed close to its dam in the field.

   The calf stayed close to its dam for the first few weeks.

   UsageBreeders use it, with sire for the father.

   Similarmother

   Oppositesire

   Note
4. 4
   reservoirnouncountable

   The water stored behind a dam, or in Australia and South Africa, a farm pond or reservoir.

   Like a big pool of water held back by a wall.

   The children swam in the dam on hot summer days.

   On hot days the kids swam in the dam on our farm.

   Similarreservoir

5. 5
   dentistrynouncountable

   A thin rubber sheet that keeps a tooth dry while a dentist works on it.

   Like a small rubber curtain that keeps a tooth dry.

   The dentist placed a dam around the tooth before filling it.

   A small rubber dam kept the area dry during the root canal.

   UsageUsually called a dental dam.

   Note

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