# Adams

/ˈædəmz/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/adams
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a surname

noun · CEFR A1

a common family name that comes from the first name Adam.

For teachers: a common English-language surname of patronymic origin, derived from the given name Adam.

- John Adams was the second president of the United States.
- The Adams family has lived in this coastal village for several generations, maintaining a small fleet of fishing vessels.

### 2. fishing fly

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a specific type of artificial insect used by fishers to catch trout.

For teachers: a versatile and widely used dry fly pattern designed to imitate various species of mayflies or midges.

- He tied an Adams to his line because it works well in almost any river.
- The angler selected a size 14 Adams, betting that its neutral grey body and grizzly hackle would entice the rising trout in the late afternoon light.

Usage: Usually capitalized as it refers to the specific pattern created by Leonard Halladay.

## Examples

- He tied an Adams to his line before casting into the river.
- When the specific insect hatch is difficult to identify, many anglers rely on an Adams to attract trout.
- The enduring popularity of the Adams lies in its impressionistic silhouette, which successfully mimics a wide range of aquatic insects across diverse geographical regions and water conditions.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.