noun
dam
DAM
noun
1
A barrier built across a river or stream to hold back or control the flow of water.
"The dam supplies electricity to three nearby towns."
"Heavy rains pushed the reservoir behind the dam to its limit."
2
The female parent of an animal, especially in breeding contexts.
"The foal's dam was a champion racehorse."
verb
1
To block or hold back the flow of water.
"Beavers dammed the stream with branches and mud."
How to Use Dam
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA wall or barrier that holds back water — or, for animals, the mother.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "damn" — they sound alike but are unrelated in meaning and spelling.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
build a dam
burst dam
dam a river
Word Forms
dammed past tense, dams plural, dams plural, dams plural, dams singular
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The _____ supplies electricity to three nearby towns.
Etymology
From Old English damm, a very old Germanic word for a barrier holding back water.