dam

Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

dam [dam dams dammed damming] noun, verb BrE [dæm] NAmE [dæm]
noun
1. a barrier that is built across a river in order to stop the water from flowing, used especially to make a ↑reservoir (= a lake for storing water) or to produce electricity
•the Narmada dam in India
•The dam burst.
2. (technical)the mother of some animals, especially horses
compare ↑sire
3. = ↑dental dam

Word Origin:
n. sense 1 and v. Middle English Middle Low German Middle Dutch Dutch dam German Damm Old English fordemman ‘close up’ n. sense 2 late Middle English ↑dame

Example Bank:
•The dam burst and the valley was flooded.
•The dam has been breached and there is a danger of flooding.
•The dam holds back the water.
•a large hydroelectric dam on the Colorado River

 
verb (-mm-)~ sth (up)
to build a ↑dam across a river, especially in order to make an artificial lake for use as a water supply, etc
•plans to dam Colorado's South Platte River
Verb forms:

Word Origin:
n. sense 1 and v. Middle English Middle Low German Middle Dutch Dutch dam German Damm Old English fordemman ‘close up’ n. sense 2 late Middle English ↑dame

Example Bank:
•Locals strongly opposed plans to dam the river.
•They formed artificial lakes by damming up a natural stream.

 

• Từ đồng nghĩa / Synonyms:
  decameter, dekameter, decametre, dekametre, dkm, dike, dyke, dam up