ham
The definition of ham is the back part of the thigh or knee, or the hind leg of a four-legged animal.
(noun)An example of ham is the back leg of a pig which is served for Christmas dinner.
To ham is defined as to overact.
(verb)An example of ham is to add a lot of extra jokes to a play that were not originally written in the script.
See ham in Webster's New World College Dictionary
noun
- the part of the leg behind the knee
- the back of the thigh
- the thigh and the buttock together
- the hock or hind leg of a four-legged animal
- the upper part of a hog's hind leg, or meat from this, salted, dried, smoked, etc.
- ☆ Informal a licensed amateur radio operator
- ☆
Origin: < hamfatter, an actor of low grade, said to be so named from former use of ham fat to remove makeup
Slang an amateur or incompetent performer, esp. an actor who performs with showy exaggeration
Origin: ME hamme < OE hamm, akin to Ger dial. hamme < IE base *konemo-, shin bone (> Gr knēmē): hamsenses & infl. by am(ateur)
noun
See ham in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
- The thigh of the hind leg of certain animals, especially a hog.
- A cut of meat from the thigh of a hog.
- The back of the knee.
- The back of the thigh.
- hams The buttocks.
- A performer who overacts or exaggerates.
- A licensed amateur radio operator.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English hamme
Origin: , from Old English hamm
Origin: . N., senses 6 and 7, possibly from ham-fatter, a poor or amateurish actor
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