Word
dam
Phoneticsdam
US/ˈdæm/
UK/dˈæm/
Definitions
01water barrier
n. a strong wall built across a river to hold back water and sometimes create electricity.
n. a barrier constructed across a waterway to impound water, typically for irrigation, flood control, or hydroelectric power generation.
“The government built a massive dam to provide water for the local farms.”
“Engineers monitored the structural integrity of the concrete dam after the seasonal rains caused the reservoir levels to rise significantly.”
Synonyms
02animal mother
n. the female parent of an animal, especially a horse or a cow.
n. the female parent of a quadruped animal, used primarily in the context of selective breeding and pedigrees.
“The prize-winning horse had a famous dam and an even more famous sire.”
“The breeder carefully selected the dam for her calm temperament and proven track record of healthy offspring.”
Technical
Usage
Commonly paired with 'sire' (the father) in livestock documentation.
Teaching tip
This sense is highly specific to farming and animal breeding; students will rarely encounter it in general conversation.
Synonyms
Antonyms
03to block water
v. to build a wall to stop water from flowing.
v. to obstruct or restrain the flow of water by means of a barrier.
“Beavers use branches and mud to dam the small stream behind our house.”
“The local authorities decided to dam the creek to create a permanent water source for the new housing development.”
Usage
Often used with the particle 'up' (to dam up a river).
Real-World Examples
“In October 1982, Paraguay and Brazil closed the gates of the Itaipu River, beginning to fill the reservoir of what would soon be the world's largest dam.” “The Kariba dam supplies at least a third of both countries’ electricity.” Idioms
water over the dam — An event or set of events which has already happened and cannot be changed.