spams

1. 1
   noun

   Plural of spam.

   Note

   A plural that pulls against its noun. For junk email the word is mostly a mass noun (a lot of spam), and the countable use is rare. The plural fits better where spam names something countable: an ellipsis of spam account, so moderators can delete several spams, or a tin of the meat. When counting messages, spam messages or pieces of spam usually reads more smoothly.

2. 2
   verb

   Third-person singular simple present indicative of spam.

   Whenever the company spams customers with promotions, complaints spike.

   She spams the forum with affiliate links until moderators step in.

   Note

   A verb form that works with or without an object. A bot that spams sends junk at large, while one that spams a forum or spams users aims it at a target. Away from messaging it stretches to any rapid repetition, as when a player spams one move. The same spelling is also the noun plural, so the sentence around the word tells the two apart.

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