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, camming 

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 ).

   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

1. Cambridge.

CAM

¹

abbreviation

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

Keep an eye on Jacksonville kicker Cam Little, who made a 70-yard field goal in a preseason game; the record long is 66 yards by Justin Tucker in a 2021 game.

From Los Angeles Times

Tennessee rookie QB Cam Ward will have a tough debut against a fierce Denver pass rush.

From Los Angeles Times

Overall number one pick Cam Ward seems to be the forgotten man at the less-than-exciting Tennessee Titans, while second generation passer Shadeur Sanders attracts a lot of attention for obvious reasons.

From BBC

Tennessee could be an outside bet to get the number one pick again unless Cam Ward can have a fast start.

From BBC

“We’re instituting changes to get more people actually working in the parks and are looking forward to what Yellowstone Superintendent Cam Sholly forecasted to be an ‘outstanding summer.’

From Los Angeles Times