Pronunciation

/dæm/

Definitions

Noun

1. Dam (n): A structure built across a river or other waterway to hold back water and create a reservoir or control its flow.
   • Example: “The hydroelectric dam produces clean energy for the city.”
2. Dam (n, pl. dams): A barrier or obstruction, often emotional, that prevents something from flowing or expressing itself.
   • Example: “Her silence was a dam against her feelings.”

Verb

• Not commonly used as a verb on its own but can be found in compound forms like “to dam up” or “to impound.”
  • Example (informal): “He tried to dam up his emotions during the presentation.”

Phrases

• “Control the flow of a river with a dam”
• “Impound water behind a dam”
• “Emotional dam breaking”

Example Sentences

• Noun: “The engineers are constructing a new dam to prevent flooding in the valley.”
• Emotional: “After years of holding back, she finally allowed her emotions to dam to break.”

Synonyms

• Flood barrier
• Dike
• Weir
• Embankment
• Checkpoint (in the context of controlling water flow)