ham

Pluralhams (some meanings)

Formshams, hamming, hammed

1. 1
   cured meatnoununcountable

   Meat from the back leg of a pig, usually salted or smoked.

   We had eggs and ham for breakfast.

   Can you buy a pound of sliced ham at the store?

   UsageSay some ham or a slice of ham. A ham can be a whole leg or a smaller prepared piece.

2. 2
   radio amateurnouncountable

   A person who sends and receives radio messages as a hobby.

   My grandpa is a ham and talks to people in other countries every night.

   Two hams helped send messages after the storm cut the phone lines.

   UsageOften in ham radio, the name of the hobby.

   Note
3. 3
   overactverbtransitive or intransitive

   To act in a play or film by showing feelings much too strongly.

   In the school play, Tom hammed so much that even the sad scenes made people laugh.

   Don't ham it up. Just say your lines in a normal voice.

   UsageUsually said as ham it up.

   Similaroveract, melodramatize

   Oppositeunderact, underplay

   Note
4. 4
   showy actornouncountable

   An actor who shows feelings far too strongly, or who acts like a beginner.

   The actor playing the king was such a ham that people laughed at the sad parts.

   My little sister turns into a ham whenever someone points a camera at her.

   Similaroveractor, hambone

   Note

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