cam

¹

[ kam ]

noun

1. Machinery. a disk or cylinder having an irregular form such that its motion, usually rotary, gives to a part or parts in contact with it a specific rocking or reciprocating motion.
2. Automotive Slang. camshaft.

verb (used with object)

, cammed, cam·ming.

1. to provide (a machine part or mechanism) with a cam or cams.

cam

²

[ kam ]

noun

1. a camera, especially one that records video (often used in combination, as in digital cam traffic cam webcam ):

   She's a professional photographer who uses state-of-the-art cams.

Cam

³

[ kam ]

noun

1. a river in E England flowing NE by Cambridge, into the Ouse River. 40 miles (64 km) long.

CAM

⁴

[ kam ]

noun

1. computer-aided manufacturing.

Cam.

⁵

abbreviation for

1. Cambridge.

CAM

¹

abbreviation for

1. complementary and alternative medicine
2. computer-aided manufacture
3. botany crassulacean acid metabolism: a form of photosynthesis, first described in crassulaceous plants, in which carbon dioxide is taken up only at night
4. Cameroon (international car registration)

-cam

²

combining form

1. camera

   webcam

Cam

³

/ kæm /

noun

1. a river in E England, in Cambridgeshire, flowing through Cambridge to the River Ouse. Length: about 64 km (40 miles)

cam

⁴

/ kæm /

noun

1. a slider or roller attached to a rotating shaft to give a particular type of reciprocating motion to a part in contact with its profile

Word History and Origins

Origin of cam¹

< Dutch or Low German kam, kamm. See comb

Origin of cam²

First recorded in 1975–80; shortening of camera ¹( def )

Origin of cam³

First recorded in 1965–70

Word History and Origins

Origin of cam¹

C18: from Dutch kam comb

Example Sentences

One year after passing on the draft’s big slider, Cam Whitmore, and on an established veteran like Jaime Jaquez Jr., the Lakers didn’t make the same mistake twice — grabbing the scorer even if the Lakers hadn’t actually done any extensive homework on him as a prospect.

From Los Angeles Times

Cam Reddish, who had helped the Lakers go undefeated since his move to the starting five, also couldn’t play because of ankle and thumb injuries.

From Los Angeles Times

Rookie Cam Hart also readies for challenge.

From Los Angeles Times

Rookie Cam Hart also readies for challenge.

From Los Angeles Times

“You got to respect Ja’Marr obviously and you got to put your attention on him, because wherever he’s at the field, he can make a play and change the game, but we are in the NFL, and everybody can change the game and make a play,” Chargers cornerback Cam Hart said.

From Los Angeles Times