MW→valentine

valentine

EnglishMerriam-Webster Dictionary

Definition (Entry 1 of 4)

a barrier preventing the flow of water or of loose solid materials (such as soil or snow) //a beaver dam //an ice dam
especially, civil engineering a barrier built across a watercourse for impounding (see impound sense 2) water
a barrier to check the flow of liquid, gas, or air
a body of water confined by a barrier //She went out to the edge of the dam for a drink. — Dick King-Smith

verb

dammed; damming

Definition (Entry 2 of 4)

transitive verb
to provide or restrain with a barrier that prevents the flow of water to provide or restrain with a dam (see dam entry 1 sense 1a) //dam a river
to stop up block //damming up their emotions

noun (2)

Definition (Entry 3 of 4)

zoology the female parent of an animal and especially of a domestic animal //the foal's dam

abbreviation

Definition (Entry 4 of 4)

dekameter

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms: Noun (1)

dike embankment head levee

Synonyms: Verb

block choke clog clot congest gum (up) jam obstruct occlude plug (up) stop (up) stuff

Antonyms: Verb

clear free open (up) unblock unclog unplug unstop

Examples

Noun (1)

//the river backed up behind the dam until it formed a new lake

Verb

//ice floes were damming the river

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sen

Definition (Entry 1 of 4)

a barrier preventing the flow of water or of loose solid materials (such as soil or snow) //a beaver dam //an ice dam
especially, civil engineering a barrier built across a watercourse for impounding (see impound sense 2) water
a barrier to check the flow of liquid, gas, or air
a body of water confined by a barrier //She went out to the edge of the dam for a drink. — Dick King-Smith

verb

dammed; damming

Definition (Entry 2 of 4)

transitive verb
to provide or restrain with a barrier that prevents the flow of water to provide or restrain with a dam (see dam entry 1 sense 1a) //dam a river
to stop up block //damming up their emotions

noun (2)

Definition (Entry 3 of 4)

zoology the female parent of an animal and especially of a domestic animal //the foal's dam

abbreviation

Definition (Entry 4 of 4)

dekameter

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms: Noun (1)

dike embankment head levee

Synonyms: Verb

block choke clog clot congest gum (up) jam obstruct occlude plug (up) stop (up) stuff

Antonyms: Verb

clear free open (up) unblock unclog unplug unstop

Examples

Noun (1)

//the river backed up behind the dam until it formed a new lake

Verb

//ice floes were damming the river

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sen