cam

cam — noun

1. an everyday short form of 'camera' — typically a compact, fixed-position digital

1.名詞B1
釋義

an everyday short form of 'camera' — typically a compact, fixed-position digital device that records video or takes photographs, used for security, online calls, or surveillance

例句

A small security cam outside the flat records everyone who comes to the door.

collocation: security cam

Theo switched on his laptop cam before the online class started.

collocation: laptop cam

同義詞
  • camera

    the full, neutral term; cam is an informal shortening

  • webcam

    a camera that streams video online; more specific than cam

  • security camera

    a camera used for surveillance; the formal term for 'security cam'

文法句型

cam + is/are + [preposition phrase]

用法筆記

Almost always used in compound nouns that name the type or purpose of the camera (security cam, webcam, traffic cam, body cam). The full word 'camera' is preferred in formal writing.

常見錯誤

❌I bought a new cam-corder.
✅I bought a new camcorder.
💡'camcorder' is one word, not a compound of 'cam' and 'corder'.
❌He set up the cam in a formal report.
✅He set up the camera in a formal report.
💡'cam' sounds too casual for official documents.

2. a moving piece inside an engine, mounted on a spinning shaft, whose unusual shap

2.名詞C1
釋義

a moving piece inside an engine, mounted on a spinning shaft, whose unusual shape pushes other parts up, down, or sideways — it opens and closes the valves at exactly the right moment

例句

The cam rotated once for every two turns of the crankshaft.

technical: cam rotation timing

A worn cam can make an engine run unevenly or lose power.

同義詞
  • camshaft

    the shaft that carries cams; 'cam' is sometimes used to mean the whole shaft

  • cam lobe

    the raised part of a cam that pushes the valve; more precise than 'cam'

文法句型

cam + verb (rotates, pushes, opens)

用法筆記

Often used as a shortening of 'camshaft' (the shaft that carries cams) rather than referring to an individual cam lobe. In automotive contexts, 'cam' can mean the whole camshaft: 'a high-performance cam' means a high-performance camshaft.

常見錯誤

❌The cam in my phone stopped working.
✅The camera in my phone stopped working.
💡'cam' in mechanics means engine part, not camera.

3. a category of treatments that sit alongside or outside standard medicine — the s

3.名詞C1
釋義

a category of treatments that sit alongside or outside standard medicine — the short form stands for complementary therapy and alternative medicine and covers practices such as acupuncture, herbal remedies, and chiropractic care

例句

Many patients combine standard drugs with CAM treatments like acupuncture.

collocation: CAM treatments

The hospital opened a new centre for CAM therapies such as massage and herbal remedies.

collocation: CAM therapies

同義詞
反義詞
  • conventional medicine

    standard medical treatment taught in most medical schools; opposite of CAM in approach

文法句型

CAM + is/are + [adjective/noun]

用法筆記

Written in all capitals (CAM) as an initialism — each letter is pronounced separately (/siː eɪ ˈem/). Used mainly in medical and healthcare discussions. Not a spoken abbreviation like 'cam' (camera).

常見錯誤

❌I take CAM medicine for my headache.
✅I use CAM treatments like herbs for my headache.
💡'CAM' is a category label, not a type of medicine itself.

cam — abbreviation