SAM

n. Stands for surface-to-air missile. You use this to describe a weapon fired from the ground to hit an aircraft.

n. Abbreviation for surface-to-air missile. A defensive or offensive projectile launched from a ground-based or ship-borne platform designed to intercept aerial targets.

“The military deployed a SAM battery to protect the capital from air attacks.”

“Intelligence reports suggested that the insurgent forces had acquired mobile SAM launchers, significantly increasing the risk to transport aircraft in the region.”

Technical

n. A short, friendly name for people called Samuel, Samson, or Samantha.

n. A common hypocorism or diminutive form of the given names Samuel, Samson, or Samantha.

“My friend Sam is coming over to help me fix my bike.”

“Although his legal name was Samuel, he insisted that everyone from his colleagues to his family call him Sam.”

Informal

n. A way to talk about the United States government or a federal agent.

n. A personification of the United States federal government, often used metonymically to refer to federal authorities or tax collectors.

“He was worried that Sam would come looking for the unpaid taxes.”

“In certain circles, 'Sam' is used as a shorthand for federal narcotics agents who are conducting undercover surveillance.”

American English · Slang

v. To collect things together or to put things in order.

v. To assemble, collect, or arrange items or people into a group.

“We need to sam all these tools before we leave the workshop.”

“The old foreman told the workers to sam their gear together before the storm arrived.”

British English · Dialect