Skip to main content
dam

dam

205 1.8
A barrier across a river that holds back water
  • noun
  • /dæm/
translation icon : presa
  • Upstream flood control dams failed to contain the excess water.
  • hydroelectric dam
  • construction of the dam
  • build a dam

And a bee builds hives, a Beaver builds dams.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • Building a new dam can help create a reservoir for drinking water and irrigation.

  • You know this dam they built... it was a very forward step.

  • The dam will burst before we make it.

  • Water backs up behind the dam and creates a head of potential energy.

    Academic text (2008)
  • We build the dam to create electricity and freshwater.

  • Thus, just about everyone agrees that the impact of the dam's construction will be devastating.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Once again, storm waters have just breached the dam at Black Beacon Reservoir.

  • The engineers designed the dam to hold back the river water and protect the nearby town from flooding.

  • After the heavy rain, the dam was inspected to ensure it was strong enough to prevent a collapse.

Synonyms

dike
vsdam
  • US
19 4.6

A raised wall built to stop water from flooding land

is placed across rivers to hold back and store upstream water
weir
vsdam
15 8.2

A low wall across a river that controls water flow and helps catch fish

is higher and holds back more water to create reservoirs
floodwall
vsdam
1 4.4

A high wall that stops flood water from entering an area

is built across rivers to block flow and form a reservoir
milldam
vsdam
9.5

A dam that holds water to make a pond giving power to a water wheel

is used generally to hold back water rather than only to power a mill

Antonyms

446 2.7

To allow a liquid, gas, or energy to flow out

44 1.4

The act of letting liquid flow out

Idioms

7.5

Something bad that already happened and cannot be changed so do not worry about it

Compounds

4 3.7

A large concrete dam on the Colorado River between Nevada and Arizona that makes electricity and forms Lake Mead

A large dam on the Colorado River in northern Arizona that forms Lake Powell

1 4.6

A large dam on the Nile in southern Egypt that controls floods, supplies water for farming and makes electricity

4.0

A large dam on the Nile in southern Egypt that controls floods, supplies water for farming, and makes electricity

A large dam on the Nile in southern Egypt that controls flooding, stores water and makes electricity

9.9

A language that Tai Dam people speak in northern and southern Vietnam

tinker's dam
  • Archaic
9.9

Something of very little or no value

How Strong

dam
205 1.8
weir
15 8.2

Surface Forms

dam singular
dams plural

Etymology

Dam for a water barrier comes from old English and Dutch words that meant 'a pile to stop water', so think of a dam as a wall that holds back a river or lake.