Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • interjection Used to indicate the sound of a blow or a collision.
  • interjection Used to indicate a sudden or unexpected occurrence.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A cheat; a hoax; an imposition.
  • To bam-boozle; cheat; hoax; wheedle.
  • To practise hoaxing or imposition.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb Slang To cheat; to wheedle.
  • noun An imposition; a cheat; a hoax.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • interjection Representing a loud noise or heavy impact.
  • interjection Representing a sudden or abrupt occurrence.
  • noun Scotland, slang ned, bampot.
  • noun obsolete, slang A jocular imposition, the same as a humbug.
  • verb obsolete, slang (slang, archaic) To impose on (someone) by a falsehood; to cheat.
  • verb slang, archaic To jeer or make fun of.
  • initialism Bare Arse Minimum

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun an ancient city in southeastern Iran; destroyed by an earthquake in 2003
  • noun a sudden very loud noise

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Imitative.]

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Examples

  • “The bam was the glut and vomit of glass and wood and stone that was hurled into the little green park before me.”

    Human Smoke Nicholson Baker 2008

  • The other side of the bam was a pala - tial apartment, with videoscreens on three walls.

    Split Infinity Anthony, Piers 1980

  • The other side of the bam was a pala - tial apartment, with videoscreens on three walls.

    Split Infinity Anthony, Piers 1980

  • Z target and fire you bomarang it will be stunned attack with sword bam!

    unknown title 2009

  • I saw the revival of Brighton Beach and was waiting for the next show, and then, "bam," three days later it closed.

    Jon Chattman: Screenwriter John Patrick Shanley on "Ups and Downs," Taking Moonstruck to Broadway and the Plays That Inspired Him 2010

  • I mean seriously ... every time I see his picture on this site I get excited for some MacGyver news and then 'bam' ...

    LOL: Follow Fake Michael Bay on Twitter | /Film 2008

  • And let's not forget that the temptation to use "bam" and "zowie" and "pow" headlines was a bit too much to resist for headline writers and comedians.

    CNN Transcript Jul 27, 2008 2008

  • I thought that game was only reserved for retirees in Boynton Beach, but my friends are starting early and joining leagues where they scream at the top of their lungs, "bam," "crack," "dragon" and finally "mah jong!"

    Beth Feldman: The Knitter 2008

  • However, a quick googling produced several results confirming his pronunciation ("pronounced as if to rhyme with 'bam'"; "Cholame (pronounced 'Shoal-lamb')"; "Cholame (pronounced Sholam)"; etc.), so I think you've simply been unaware of the local pronunciation.

    languagehat.com: IN HIS MIDST. 2005

  • Not a "bam" nor a "wham", but more of a "whplam", like the truck had just run over a loose cattleguard, or a piece of heavy plastic in the road.

    grouse Diary Entry grouse 2004

Comments

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  • An ancient city, destroyed 4 years ago.

    November 15, 2007

  • The eternal lubricant.

    November 24, 2008