dam

/dæm/
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dam

A beaver builds a dam across a small stream.

Definition

  1. Noun:

    • A barrier built across a river or stream to hold back water: A structure, often made of earth, concrete, or stone, designed to control water flow, create a reservoir, or generate hydroelectric power.
    • The female parent of an animal, especially livestock: Used primarily in animal husbandry to refer to the mother of a horse, sheep, or other domestic animal.
    • (Obsolete) A mother or female parent: An archaic or literary term for a human mother.

  2. Verb:

    • To build a dam across a watercourse: To obstruct or confine the flow of water by constructing a barrier.
    • To hold back or restrain something: Often used figuratively to mean suppressing or controlling emotions, feelings, or forces.
Usage Examples
  • Noun (Barrier):
    • The Hoover Dam is a major source of hydroelectric power.
    • The beavers built a dam across the stream.
  • Noun (Animal parent):
    • The foal stayed close to its dam.
  • Verb:
    • The government plans to dam the river to create a new reservoir.
    • She tried to dam her tears, but they flowed anyway.
Advanced Usage
  • "To dam up": To block completely, often used for emotions or water.
    • He had dammed up his grief for years.
  • "The devil and his dam": An archaic idiom expressing strong disapproval, roughly meaning "the devil and his mother."
    • He blamed the whole mess on the devil and his dam.
Variants and Related Words
  • Damning (adj): Strongly critical or conclusive (as in ). Note: This is a distinct word derived from a different root (to condemn), not directly from the barrier "dam."
  • Damsel (n): A young unmarried woman (archaic). Note: This is etymologically unrelated to the barrier "dam."
Synonyms
  • Noun (Barrier): Barrage, embankment, levee, weir.
  • Noun (Mother): Sire (for the male parent), mare (specifically for a horse).
  • Verb: Block, obstruct, stem, hold back, restrain.
Related Phrasal Verbs
  • Dam up: To block or hold back, creating a buildup.
    • The fallen logs dammed up the creek, forming a small pond.
    • You shouldn't dam up your anger; it's unhealthy.
Related Idioms
  • "Like water behind a dam": Describing something (like pressure or emotion) that is building up and will eventually be released with great force.
    • His frustration was building like water behind a dam.
dam

A beaver builds a dam across a small stream.

Noun
  1. female parent of an animal especially domestic livestock
  2. a metric unit of length equal to ten meters
  3. a barrier constructed to contain the flow of water or to keep out the sea
Verb
  1. obstruct with, or as if with, a dam
    • dam the gorges of the Yangtse River

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