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. Hydropower is often used in conjunction with dams to generate electricity. A ...

The meaning of DAM is a barrier preventing the flow of water or of loose solid materials (such as soil or snow); especially, civil engineering : a barrier built across a watercourse for impounding water.

dam, structure built across a stream, a river, or an estuary to retain water. Dams are built to provide water for human consumption, for irrigating arid and semiarid lands, or for use in industrial processes.

By general definition, a dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams, hence tailings dams are relegated to a separate list. Data on volume of structure is not as easily available or reliable as data on dam height and reservoir volume.

Jun 21, 2024 · A dam is a structure built across a river or stream to hold back water. People have used different materials to build dams over the centuries. Ancient dam builders used natural materials such as rocks or clay.

DAM definition: 1. a wall built across a river that stops the river's flow and collects the water, especially to…. Learn more.

Hollow gravity dam. A dam constructed of concrete and/or masonry on the outside but having a hollow interior relying on its weight for stability. Crib dam. A gravity dam built up of boxes, crossed timbers, or gabions filled with earth or rock. Roller-compacted concrete dam.

Dams provide a life-sustaining resource to people in all regions of the United States. They are an extremely important part of this nation’s infrastructure—equal in importance to bridges, roads, airports, and other major elements of the infrastructure.

The primary purpose of dams is for storage and safe retention of water in large quantity which is subsequently released to achieve various purposes such as irrigation, hydropower, recreation, water supply, flood prevention etc. 1. Irrigation. The primary and main purpose of constructing a dam is to store water and use it for irrigation.

dam, Barrier built across a stream, river, or estuary to conserve water for such uses as human consumption, irrigation, flood control, and hydroelectric power generation.