adam
- 01 B1 Intermediate
in the Bible, the first man created by God.
the first human being and progenitor of the human race according to the creation myth of the Abrahamic religions.
Simple“The story of Adam and Eve is found in the book of Genesis.”
In context“Theological debates often centre on the nature of the fall of Adam and its implications for human morality.”
- 02 A1 Beginner
a common first name for a man.
a masculine given name of Hebrew origin, meaning 'man' or 'earth'.
Simple“My friend Adam is coming over for dinner tonight.”
In context“Adam remains a consistently popular choice for parents in many English-speaking countries due to its classic biblical roots.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
a funny way to name the day before a holiday eve, like December 23rd.
a humorous colloquialism designating the day or night immediately preceding a holiday eve, most frequently used for December 23rd.
Simple“We call December 23rd 'Christmas Adam' because it comes before Christmas Eve.”
In context“The family tradition involved a small gift exchange on Christmas Adam to build anticipation for the main celebrations.”
UsageUsually used in the phrase 'Christmas Adam'.
- 04 C2 Proficiency
a style of furniture and buildings from the 18th century.
referring to the neoclassical style of architecture and interior design developed by the brothers Robert and James Adam in the 18th century.
Simple“The dining room was decorated in the elegant Adam style.”
In context“The manor house is a premier example of Adam architecture, featuring delicate plasterwork and refined neoclassical proportions.”
Synonymsadamesque
From Middle English Adam, from Old English Adam, from Latin Adam, Adamus, from Ancient Greek Ἀδάμ (Adám), Ἄδαμος (Ádamos), from Biblical Hebrew אָדָם (adam, “earth, man, soil, light brown”), from אדמה (adamah, “red earth, ground”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.