Definition

Proper noun 1. A river in east central England: The River Cam is a specific watercourse in England. It is notable for flowing through the city of Cambridge before joining the larger River Ouse.

Examples of Usage

• Proper noun:
  • The famous "punting" tours take visitors along the River Cam to see the colleges from the water.
  • Several of the oldest bridges in Cambridge cross the River Cam.
  • The River Cam is a tributary of the River Ouse.

Advanced Usage

• "on the Cam": This phrase is used to describe activities happening on the river itself.
  • Rowing races are regularly held on the Cam.
• "the Cam": In local and academic contexts, the river is very commonly referred to simply as "the Cam".
  • Let's go for a walk by the Cam this afternoon.

Variants and Related Words

• Granta: An older, alternative name for the upper section of the River Cam, still used in some contexts and place names.
• Tributary: A river or stream flowing into a larger river. The Cam is a tributary of the River Ouse.

Synonyms

• Watercourse: A general term for a river, stream, or canal.
• River: The general category to which the Cam belongs. (Note: "River" is not a direct synonym for the specific name "River Cam").

Related Phrases

• Punting on the Cam: A very common phrase referring to the popular tourist activity of propelling a flat-bottomed boat (a punt) with a long pole along the river in Cambridge.
  • A classic Cambridge experience is punting on the Cam.

Noun

1. a river in east central England that flows past Cambridge to join the Ouse River