Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense hams, present participle hamming, past tense, past participle hammed
1. variable noun
Ham is meat from the top of the back leg of a pig, specially treated so that it can be kept for a long period of time.
...a huge baked ham.
...ham sandwiches.
...a dozen slices of ham.
2. countable noun
A ham is a person whose hobby consists of using special radio equipment to talk to other people with the same hobby, often people who are in other countries.
I became a ham radio operator at the age of eleven.
3. countable noun [oft NOUN noun]
A ham actor is someone who acts badly, exaggerating every emotion and gesture.
4.
See ham sth up
ham in British English1
(hæm)
noun
1.
the part of the hindquarters of a pig or similar animal between the hock and the hip
2.
the meat of this part, esp when salted or smoked
3. informal
a.
the back of the leg above the knee
b.
the space or area behind the knee
4. needlework
a cushion used for moulding curves
Word origin
Old English hamm; related to Old High German hamma haunch, Old Irish cnāim bone, camm bent, Latin camur bent
ham in British English2
(hæm)
noun
1. theatre informal
a.
an actor who overacts or relies on stock gestures or mannerisms
b.
overacting or clumsy acting
c.
(as modifier)
a ham actor
2. informal
a.
a licensed amateur radio operator
b.
(as modifier)
a ham licence
verbWord forms: hams, hamming or hammed
3. informal
to overact
Word origin
C19: special use of ham1; in some senses probably influenced by amateur
Ham in American English
(hæm)
noun
Bible
Noah's second son: Gen. 6:10
ham in American English
(hæm)
noun
1.
the part of the leg behind the knee
2.
a.
the back of the thigh
b.
the thigh and the buttock together
3.
the hock or hind leg of a four-legged animal
4.
the upper part of a hog's hind leg, or meat from this, salted, dried, smoked, etc.
5. US, Informal
a licensed amateur radio operator
6. US, Slang
an amateur or incompetent performer, esp. an actor who performs with showy exaggeration
verb intransitive, verb transitiveWord forms: hammed or ˈhamming
7. Slang
to act with exaggeration
: often in ham it up
Word origin
ME hamme < OE hamm, akin to Ger dial. hamme < IE base *konemo-, shin bone (> Gr knēmē); (sense 6) < hamfatter, an actor of low grade, said to be so named from former use of ham fat to removemakeup
ham in Hospitality
(hæm)
noun
(Hospitality (hotel): Food and drink, meat)
Ham is meat from the top of the back leg of a pig, specially treated so that it can bekept for a long period of time.
COLLOCATIONS: slice of ~
The ham in the sandwich was thinly sliced.
The ham from a pig's leg is often not as lean as bacon.
The songs work best when served with lashings of ham and cheese.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
My mother used to clean houses and my father worked in the food industry, producing things like ham and cheese.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I might have toast with cheese, ham and bits of cucumber and tomato.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But then he sent me a photograph of his dinner: ham hock, new potatoes and various fancy veg.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
This time I'm adding ham hock.
The Sun (2016)
Spaghetti with pulled ham mustard cream sauce I'm a sucker for those double packs of pulled ham hock.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It is better to eat a protein bar than a ham sandwich.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Remove from the oven and place the ham on top with a scattering of rocket.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
To be bacon or ham the meat must be cured.
Smith, Drew Food Watch (1994)
The cynical stud earns his weekly wage as a ham actor in a colonial theme park.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Tear the chicken and ham over the top in bite size pieces.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Remove the skin from the ham hock.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He seemed particularly interested in my ham sandwiches.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
My worst habit is putting a bowl of rice in the microwave with shredded ham on top.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Little red meat and absolutely no processed meats such as bacon or ham.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
My chicken and ham pie was a disaster.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Crush them lightly with a fork before serving alongside boiled ham hock.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Lay a slice of ham on top and scatter cheese over it.
The Sun (2010)
What disease did cured ham have?
The Sun (2013)
Add broad beans, ham and cheese.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Much of the acting is pure ham, but the audience seems to lap it up.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
If you buy a slice of ham, the slice of ham becomes part of you.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Mom would receive messages by ham radio from Dad.
Christianity Today (2000)
Many people report headaches after eating cured meats like ham, bacon and salami.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
I had ham and cheese with pickle.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
A healthy chicken and veg dinner but would pick at cheese and ham.
The Sun (2015)
He would be saying, as ham actors often implicitly do: love me.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
RADIO hams came out of a meeting to find their cars' central locking had been jammed by mystery wireless waves.
The Sun (2012)
Word lists with
ham
Literary characters
In other languages
ham
British English: ham /hæm/ NOUN
Ham is meat from the top of the back leg of a pig, which has been cooked and is usually eaten cold.
...ham sandwiches.
American English: ham
Arabic: لـَحْم فَخِذ الـخَنْزير
Brazilian Portuguese: presunto
Chinese: 火腿
Croatian: šunka
Czech: šunka
Danish: skinke
Dutch: ham
European Spanish: jamón
Finnish: kinkku
French: jambon
German: Schinken
Greek: ζαμπόν
Italian: prosciutto
Japanese: ハム
Korean: 햄
Norwegian: skinke
Polish: szynka
European Portuguese: presunto
Romanian: șuncă
Russian: ветчина
Latin American Spanish: jamón
Swedish: skinka typ av kött
Thai: ต้นขาหลังของหมู
Turkish: jambon
Ukrainian: стегно
Vietnamese: thịt giăm-bông
All related terms of 'ham'
daisy ham
a boned and smoked piece of pork from the pig's shoulder
Parma ham
cured ham from Italy
radio ham
an actor who overacts or relies on stock gestures or mannerisms
West Ham
ham acting
an actor who overacts or relies on stock gestures or mannerisms
ham-fisted
If you describe someone as ham-fisted , you mean that they are clumsy, especially in the way that they use their hands .
ham-handed
clumsy , graceless , or tactless; inept
picnic ham
a section of boned and smoked pork shoulder
Serrano ham
cured ham from Spain
ham sth up
If actors or actresses ham it up , they exaggerate every emotion and gesture when they are acting, often deliberately because they think that the audience will be more amused .
Virginia ham
a ham , often from a hog fed on peanuts , that is first cured in salt , then smoked esp. with hickory wood, and aged for several months
ham radio operator
an actor who overacts or relies on stock gestures or mannerisms
picnic
When people have a picnic , they eat a meal out of doors , usually in a field or a forest , or at the beach .