dam
/dæm/ (bre, ipa) · [dˈæm] /dæm/ (ame, ipa) · [dˈæm] /ˈdam/ (ame, mw)
dam — 名詞
- damsingular
- damsplural
1. a strong wall or barrier placed across the path of a river or stream to hold bac
水壩；攔河壩
建在河流上蓄水或發電的屏障
a strong wall or barrier placed across the path of a river or stream to hold back the current, forming a lake or reservoir that can supply water for farming or produce electric power
The government built a new dam across the Yellow River to supply water to nearby farms.
政府在黃河上新建了一座水壩，為附近的農田供水。
collocation: build a dam across [river]
After heavy rain, engineers checked the dam for cracks to prevent flooding.
大雨過後，工程師檢查水壩是否有裂縫，以防洪水。
The Hoover Dam produces enough electricity to power more than a million homes each year.
胡佛水壩每年發出的電量足以供應超過一百萬戶家庭。
Farmers downstream depend on the dam for irrigation water during the dry season.
下游的農民在乾季依靠這座水壩提供灌溉用水。
After years of cracks, the town voted to tear down the dam and free the river.
歷經多年裂縫後，鎮上投票決定拆除水壩，讓河流恢復自由。
文法句型
a dam
the dam
常見錯誤
2. a mound of branches, mud, and stones that beavers build across a narrow stream t
河狸壩
河狸用樹枝與泥土築成的攔水結構
a mound of branches, mud, and stones that beavers build across a narrow stream to create a calm pond where they can live and store food
The beavers built their dam across a small stream behind Bao's house.
河狸在 Bao 家後面的小溪上築起了牠們的壩。
collocation: build a beaver dam across [stream]
When the water level dropped, hikers could see the beaver dam made of branches and mud.
水位下降後，健行者可以看到那由樹枝和泥土築成的河狸壩。
material: branches, mud
The beaver dam created a large pond that attracted ducks, frogs, and other animals.
河狸壩形成了一個大池塘，吸引了鴨子、青蛙和其他動物。
Lotte spotted a small beaver dam made of branches and mud wedged across a narrow bend in the creek.
Lotte 看到一座由樹枝和泥土築成的小型河狸壩，卡在小溪轉彎處的狹窄河道上。
- beaver lodge
the beaver's home structure, usually built within the pond created by the dam
文法句型
a beaver dam
用法筆記
Beaver dams are typically much smaller than human-built dams and are made from natural materials. They play an important role in creating wetland ecosystems.
3. the mother of an animal, used especially for horses, cows, and other domestic an
母獸；母馬
動物的母親，尤指家畜
the mother of an animal, used especially for horses, cows, and other domestic animals that give birth to young
The horse breeder recorded the dam's name along with the foal's birth date in the registry.
馬匹飼養員在登記簿上記錄了母馬的名字和小馬的出生日期。
collocation: dam + foal in breeding context
This prize-winning calf came from a dam that had won several national competitions.
這頭得獎小牛來自一頭曾在多次全國比賽中獲勝的母牛。
Farmers keep detailed records of each dam and her offspring to improve the herd.
農民仔細記錄每頭母獸及其後代的資料，以改良畜群。
The foal inherited its speed from its dam, a racehorse raised in Kentucky.
這匹小馬繼承了牠母親的速度——一匹來自肯塔基的賽馬。
- mother
the general term for a female parent in any species; less technical than dam
- sire
the male parent of an animal, especially a horse or domestic animal
文法句型
the dam
dam + offspring
用法筆記
Frequently used in animal breeding records. Distinguish from sire, which refers to the male parent. The term dam is most common in horse and cattle breeding contexts.
常見錯誤
4. a thin flexible sheet, usually made of latex, placed over the mouth or teeth as
橡皮障；護膜
牙科或性行為使用的隔離薄片
a thin flexible sheet, usually made of latex, placed over the mouth or teeth as a barrier — dentists use it to isolate a single tooth during work on it, and it can also serve as protection during oral sex to lower the chance of infections
The dentist placed a small rubber dam around Talia's tooth before starting the filling.
牙醫在開始補牙前，先在 Talia 的牙齒周圍放了一塊小橡皮障。
dental context: rubber dam around [tooth]
Noor bought dental dams at the pharmacy for protection during oral sex.
Noor 在藥局買了口交防護膜，以在口交時保護自己。
sexual health context: dental dam for protection
The dental dam kept the tooth dry and clean while Dr. Okafor replaced the filling.
橡皮障讓牙齒保持乾燥清潔，Okafor 醫生順利補好了牙。
At the clinic, the nurse showed Lin how to use a dental dam for protection.
在衛生所，護理師向 Lin 示範如何使用口交防護膜來保護自己。
- rubber dam
more common term in dentistry; refers to the same thin sheet
- oral dam
alternative name used in sexual health contexts
文法句型
a dental dam
use a dam
用法筆記
In dental contexts, also called a rubber dam. In sexual health contexts, the same type of sheet is often called a dental dam or oral dam. The colour and flavouring may differ between dental and sexual health products.
常見錯誤
5. a unit of length equal to ten meters, written as dam in abbreviations — one deka
公丈
長度單位，一公丈等於十公尺
a unit of length equal to ten meters, written as dam in abbreviations — one dekameter is about 32.8 feet
Using her GPS device, the surveyor noted that the field boundary sat 12 dam from the edge of the main road.
測量員用 GPS 儀器記錄到田地的邊界距離主要道路邊緣 12 公丈。
abbreviation usage: dam = dekameter
The surveyor recorded the distance between the two boundary markers as 12 dam on her field map.
測量員在外業地圖上記錄兩個界標之間的距離為 12 公丈。
surveying context: dam on a field map
The distance from the fountain to the library entrance is 3 dam, which equals thirty meters on the campus map.
從噴泉到圖書館入口的距離是 3 公丈，在校園地圖上等於三十公尺。
The farmer measured her rice field at 8 dam from the ditch to the road.
農夫測量她的稻田從灌溉渠道到道路是 8 公丈。
文法句型
dam (abbreviation)
用法筆記
The abbreviation dam for dekameter is most common in technical and scientific writing. In everyday conversation, people usually say ten meters rather than one dekameter. The abbreviation uses the same letters as the noun dam, so context must clarify the meaning.
dam — 動詞
- dampresent simple I / you / we / they
- dams3rd person singular
- damming-ing form
- dammedpast simple
1. to build a wall across a river or stream in order to control how the water moves
築壩；阻擋
建造水壩或像水壩般堵住
to build a wall across a river or stream in order to control how the water moves; also, to stop or block anything from moving or flowing, whether physically or emotionally
The village plans to dam the stream to create a reliable water supply for their crops.
村莊計劃在溪流上築壩，為農作物創造穩定的供水。
collocation: dam a stream
Fallen trees had dammed the river, causing the water to rise behind them.
倒下的樹木堵住了河流，導致河水在樹後上漲。
passive: dammed by fallen trees
Kabir tried to dam up his emotions, but eventually he broke down and cried.
Kabir 試圖壓抑自己的情緒，但最後還是崩潰大哭。
Workers dammed the canal so the repair team could fix the broken pipe safely.
工人築壩攔住運河，好讓維修團隊安全修理破裂的水管。
- release
to let something flow freely again, opposite of all senses of dam
文法句型
dam + river/stream
dam up + object
be dammed
用法筆記
Often used with up — dam up a river or dam up feelings. The metaphorical use (blocking emotions or information) extends from the physical image of a dam holding back water. The verb is less common than the noun in everyday speech.