slam

¹

[ slam ]

verb (used with or without object)

, slammed, slam·ming.

1. to shut with force and noise:

   to slam the door.

2. to dash, strike, knock, thrust, throw, slap down, etc., with violent and noisy impact:

   He slammed his books upon the table.

3. Informal. to criticize harshly; attack verbally:

   He slammed my taste mercilessly.

noun

1. a violent and noisy closing, dashing, or impact.
2. the noise so made.
3. Usually the slam. Slang. slammer ( def 2 ).
4. Informal. a harsh criticism; verbal attack:

   I am sick of your slams.

5. Informal.
   1. Also called poetry slam. a competitive, usually boisterous poetry reading.
   2. a usually competitive performance involving multiple performers with short acts: a tap dance slam.

      puppet slams;

      a tap dance slam.

slam

²

[ slam ]

noun

, Cards.

1. the winning or bidding of all the tricks or all the tricks but one in a deal. Compare grand slam ( def 1 ), little slam.
2. an old type of card game associated with ruff.

slam

¹

/ slæm /

verb

1. to cause (a door or window) to close noisily and with force or (of a door, etc) to close in this way
2. tr to throw (something) down noisily and violently
3. slang.
   tr to criticize harshly
4. informal.
   intr; usually foll by into or out of to go (into or out of a room, etc) in violent haste or anger
5. tr to strike with violent force
6. informal.
   tr to defeat easily

noun

1. the act or noise of slamming
2. slang.
   harsh criticism or abuse

slam

²

/ slæm /

noun

1. 1. the winning of all (grand slam) or all but one (little slam or small slam) of the 13 tricks at bridge or whist
   2. the bid to do so in bridge See grand slam little slam
2. an old card game

slam

³

/ slæm /

noun

1. a poetry contest in which entrants compete with each other by reciting their work and are awarded points by the audience

Other Words From

• un·slammed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of slam¹

First recorded in 1650–60; perhaps from Scandinavian; compare Icelandic, Norwegian, Swedish slamra “to bang (a door), slam”

Origin of slam²

First recorded in 1660–70; perhaps special use of slam ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of slam¹

C17: of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse slamra, Norwegian slemma, Swedish dialect slämma

Origin of slam²

C17: of uncertain origin

Origin of slam³

C20: origin unknown

Example Sentences

Luke Littler produced a stunning fightback to beat Mike de Decker 10-9 and reach the Grand Slam of Darts quarter-finals.

From BBC

Prendergast was one of the stars of Ireland's Under-20s Six Nations Grand Slam win in 2023 and also impressed during this year's Emerging Ireland series in South Africa, starting three games at fly-half in the space of the week.

From BBC

Michael van Gerwen failed to make it through to the Grand Slam of Darts last 16 after a 5-4 defeat by Ryan Joyce.

From BBC

The victory marks her third title of a year in which she did not reach a singles Grand Slam final, with her best runs coming at the Australian Open and on the Roland Garros clay, when she was eliminated in the semi-finals.

From BBC

Although it has ended in defeat, 2024 has been a season to remember for Zheng, who after reaching her first Grand Slam final at the Australian Open in January - losing to Aryna Sabalenka - made history in Paris in the summer when she won China’s first Olympic singles tennis gold medal.

From BBC

Related Words

• bang
• bat
• batter
• beat
• belt
• blast
• crash
• dash
• fling
• hit
• hurl
• knock
• slap
• smash
• strike
• swat