n(1) 水坝(barrier built across a river to control the flow of water) [C]：build a～across the stream 在溪中筑坝;A new～was being built at the mouth of the valley. 山谷口正在筑水坝。the Aswan D～ 阿斯旺水坝;〖同〗barrier， wall;

(2)(水坝)水库(body of water formed by such a barrier) [C]：The water-level in the～was low today.今天水库的水位低。have a picnic by the～在水库边野餐;

v(1) 筑水坝于.……(build a dam on or across(a river， valley， etc)) [T+n， T+n+adv(up)]：～(up) a river/a river valley在河流/河谷里筑坝;〖同〗block， hinder;

(2) 筑坝堵住(keep back by means of a dam)[T+n， T+n+adv(up)]：～(up) the water筑坝蓄水;

dam up (v adv) 抑(克)制(vt)(fig)：～up one's anger/one's feelings/one's tears克制怒火/控制感情/忍住眼泪;

【注意】dam与damn(v 诅咒;指摘;n 诅咒;毫(不))的读音完全相同，注意不要弄混，如：The river may be dammed.(那河上可能要筑坝。) The play may be damned.(那出戏可能要受到批评。) Sinners may be damned to everlasting hellfire.(罪人会永世被诅咒。)