Weir vs. Dam

Weirnoun

An adjustable dam placed across a river to regulate the flow of water downstream.

Damnoun

A structure placed across a flowing body of water to stop the flow or part of the flow, generally for purposes such as retaining or diverting
some of the water or retarding the release of accumulated water to avoid abrupt flooding

‘A dam is often an essential source of water to farmers of hilly country.’;

Weirnoun

A fence placed across a river to catch fish.

Damnoun

The water reservoir resulting from placing such structure.

‘Boats may only be used at places set aside for boating on the dam’;

Weirnoun

A dam in a river to stop and raise the water, for the purpose of conducting it to a mill, forming a fish pond, or the like.

Damnoun

(dentistry) A device to prevent a tooth from getting wet during dental work, consisting of a rubber sheet held with a band.

Weirnoun

A fence of stakes, brushwood, or the like, set in a stream, tideway, or inlet of the sea, for taking fish.

Damnoun

A reservoir.

Weirnoun

A long notch with a horizontal edge, as in the top of a vertical plate or plank, through which water flows, - used in measuring the quantity of flowing water.

Damnoun

A firebrick wall, or a stone, which forms the front of the hearth of a blast furnace.

Weirnoun

a low dam built across a stream to raise its level or divert its flow

Damnoun

(India) An obsolete Indian copper coin, equal to a fortieth of a rupee.

Weirnoun

a fence or wattle built across a stream to catch or retain fish

Damnoun

Female parent, mother, generally regarding breeding of animals (correlative to sire).

Weir

A weir or low head dam is a barrier across the width of a river that alters the flow characteristics of water and usually results in a change in the height of the river level. Weirs are also used to control the flow of water for outlets of lakes, ponds, and reservoirs.

Damnoun

A kind of crowned piece in the game of draughts.

Damverb

To block the flow of water.

Damnoun

A female parent; - used of beasts, especially of quadrupeds; sometimes applied in contempt to a human mother.

‘Our sire and dam, now confined to horses, are a relic of this age (13th century) . . . .Dame is used of a hen; we now make a great difference between dame and dam.’; ‘The dam runs lowing up and down,Looking the way her harmless young one went.’;

Damnoun

A king or crowned piece in the game of draughts.

Damnoun

A barrier to prevent the flow of a liquid; esp., a bank of earth, or wall of any kind, as of masonry or wood, built across a water course, to confine and keep back flowing water.

Damnoun

A firebrick wall, or a stone, which forms the front of the hearth of a blast furnace.

Damverb

To obstruct or restrain the flow of, by a dam; to confine by constructing a dam, as a stream of water; - generally used with in or up.

‘I'll have the current in this place dammed up.’; ‘A weight of earth that dams in the water.’;

Damverb

To shut up; to stop up; to close; to restrain.

‘The strait pass was dammedWith dead men hurt behind, and cowards.’;

Damnoun

a barrier constructed to contain the flow of water or to keep out the sea

Damnoun

a metric unit of length equal to ten meters

Damnoun

female parent of an animal especially domestic livestock

Damverb

obstruct with, or as if with, a dam;

‘dam the gorges of the Yangtse River’;

Damnoun

a barrier constructed to hold back water and raise its level, forming a reservoir used to generate electricity or as a water supply

‘the dam burst after torrential rain’; ‘the Hoover Dam’;

Damnoun

a barrier of branches in a stream, constructed by a beaver to provide a deep pool and a lodge.

Damnoun

an artificial pond or reservoir where rain or spring water is collected for storage

‘the dam was full of water’;

Damnoun

a rubber sheet used to keep saliva from the teeth during dental operations, or as a prophylactic device during cunnilingus and anilingus.

Damnoun

the female parent of an animal, especially a domestic mammal.

Damverb

build a dam across (a river or lake)

‘the river was dammed to form Lake Powell’;

Damverb

hold back or obstruct (something)

‘discussion was in full flow and refused to be dammed’; ‘the closed lock gates dammed up the canal’;

Dam

A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use, aquaculture, and navigability.