slam1

 
Pronunciation: /slam/

verb (slams, slamming, slammed)

[with object]
  • 1shut (a door, window, or lid) forcefully and loudly: he slams the door behind him as he leaves
  • [no object] be closed forcefully and loudly: she heard a car door slam
  • [with object and adverbial] push or put something somewhere with great force: Charlie slammed down the phone
  • [no object] (slam into) crash into; collide heavily with: the car mounted the pavement, slamming into a lamp post
  • [with object and adverbial of direction] informal hit (something) with great force in a particular direction: he slammed a shot into the net
  • put (something) into action suddenly or forcefully: I slammed on the brakes
  • [no object, with adverbial of direction] move violently or loudly: he slammed out of the room
  • informal, chiefly North American score points against or gain a victory over (someone) easily: the Blue Devils slammed Kansas to win the title
  • short for slam-dance.
  • 2 informal criticize severely: the new TV soap was slammed as being cynical and irresponsible
  • 3 (usually as noun slamming) (of a telephone company) take over the account of (a telephone customer) without their permission.

noun

  • 1a loud bang caused by the forceful shutting of something such as a door: the door closed with a slam
  • 2 (usually the slam) North American informal prison: if he challenged the judge, he was definitely going to the slam
    [abbreviation of slammer]
  • 3chiefly US a poetry contest in which competitors recite their entries and are judged by members of the audience, the winner being elected after several elimination rounds: a poetry slam slams will be spreading out to suburban poetry clubs

Origin:

late 17th century: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare with Old Norse slam(b)ra