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

Following a benching Wednesday in a loss to Memphis, Redick moved point guard D’Angelo Russell to the second unit in favor of Cam Reddish, who wasn’t even in the rotation three games ago.

From Los Angeles Times

And it says a lot about the rest of the Lakers, save for a few like Cam Reddish, who had his second strong game in a row.

From Los Angeles Times

The laundry list of injuries has thrown rookies Cam Hart and Tarheeb Still into major roles.

From Los Angeles Times

Cam Reddish replaced Max Christie, and rookie Dalton Knecht didn’t play after the second quarter.

From Los Angeles Times

Depth in the secondary — where Molden has solidified the safety position while rookie cornerbacks Still and Cam Hart have stepped up outside — has allowed James to flex his versatility in every facet of the defense.

From Los Angeles Times