noun
cam
KAM
noun
1
A rotating or sliding mechanical part shaped to convert its motion into movement of a connected rod or lever.
"The engine's valves are timed by a rotating cam."
2
A spring-loaded metal wedge that climbers jam into a rock crack to create a temporary anchor.
"He placed a cam in the crack before continuing the climb."
3
Informal short form of "camera" or "webcam."
"She set up her cam for the video call."
verb
1
To appear or chat on webcam.
"They agreed to cam later that evening."
How to Use Cam
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost often used today as short for "camera/webcam," or for the mechanical part that drives motion in an engine.
Word Forms
cammed past tense, cams plural, cams plural, Cams plural, cams singular
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The engine's valves are timed by a rotating _____.
Etymology
Recorded since the 1500s, from Dutch kam ("cog, comb") — a doublet of the English word "comb."