Engineering English
Dam
Energy Engineering · Civil Engineering · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: A dam is a barrier built across a watercourse to impound water, creating a reservoir. It is essential for water supply, flood control, and generating hydroelectric power.
Example in context
“The structural integrity of the dam is critical for reservoir safety and flood control.”
“Barajın yapısal bütünlüğü, hazne güvenliği ve sel kontrolü için kritiktir.”
Where engineers use it
Engineers assess dam safety through regular inspections and structural analysis. The term appears in hydrology reports, construction plans, and risk assessments for hydroelectric projects.
In Civil Engineering
A barrier constructed across a river or valley to store water, control floods, or generate hydroelectric power.
“The concrete gravity dam stores enough water to irrigate the valley through the dry season and generate power at peak demand.”
Practice: can you use “Dam” at work?
You are presenting a geotechnical report on foundation stability for a new dam. Discuss how the dam design addresses seepage and uplift forces.
Show a model answer
“We must ensure the dam meets seismic safety standards.”
“Dam” in 21 languages
| English | Dam |
|---|---|
| Turkish | baraj |
| French | barrage |
| German | Damm |
| Spanish | presa |
| Chinese | 水坝 |
| Arabic | سد |
| Portuguese | barragem |
| Russian | плотина |
| Japanese | ダム |
| Italian | diga |
| Vietnamese | đập |
| Hindi | बांध |
| Thai | เขื่อน |
| Indonesian | bendungan |
| Korean | 댐 |
| Bengali | বাঁধ |
| Dutch | dam |
| Swedish | damm |
| Finnish | pato |
| Ukrainian | дамба |
Frequently asked questions
What does Dam mean in engineering?
A dam is a barrier built across a watercourse to impound water, creating a reservoir. It is essential for water supply, flood control, and generating hydroelectric power. In Energy Engineering, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Dam?
Dam is pronounced /dæm/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Dam used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “The structural integrity of the dam is critical for reservoir safety and flood control.”
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