cam Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun a river in east central England that flows past Cambridge to join the Ouse River
River Cam; Cam River.
noun a rotating disk shaped to convert circular into linear motion

Dan. kam comb, ridge; or cf. W. Gael., and Ir., cam bet. See 1st Come.

(Med.) (a) A turning or sliding piece which, by the shape of its periphery or face, or a groove in its surface, imparts variable or intermittent motion to, or receives such motion from, a rod, lever, or block brought into sliding or rolling contact with it. (b) A curved wedge, movable about an axis, used for forcing or clamping two pieces together. (c) A projecting part of a wheel or other moving piece so shaped as to give alternate or variable motion to another piece against which its acts. ✍ Cams are much used in machinery involving complicated, and irregular movements, as in the sewing machine, pin machine, etc.
A ridge or mound of earth. Prow. Eng. Wright.