ham

ham — noun

1. meat from a pig's upper leg or shoulder that has been preserved with salt, smoke

1.nounB1
Definition

meat from a pig's upper leg or shoulder that has been preserved with salt, smoke, or both — usually sold cooked and sliced for cold dishes or roasted whole for a meal.

Example

Christopher ordered a ham and cheese sandwich for lunch at the café.

common combination: ham and cheese sandwich

The smell of baked ham filled the kitchen on Christmas morning.

Common collocations
  • baked ham
  • smoked ham
  • sliced ham
  • ham sandwich
  • ham and eggs
Synonyms
  • gammon

    British term for cured ham from the hind leg, usually sold uncooked and fried or grilled as a thick steak; less common in American English.

  • pork

    The general term for any pig meat; ham is a specific cured cut of pork.

Common Mistakes

I had a ham for breakfast' (meaning a small amount of sliced meat).
I had ham for breakfast' or 'I had a slice of ham for breakfast.
Ham is uncountable when referring to the food in general; only use 'a ham' for a whole uncut piece.

2. a stage or screen performer whose delivery feels forced and artificial, marked b

2.nounC1
Definition

a stage or screen performer whose delivery feels forced and artificial, marked by overly broad emotion and gesture; the term also applies to any person who behaves in a showy, over-the-top manner for attention.

Example

The critic said the lead actor was a terrible ham who ruined every dramatic scene.

collocation: terrible ham

At the school play, Eliska played the villain like a total ham, with huge gestures.

Common collocations
  • terrible ham
  • old ham
  • ham actor
  • ham it up
Synonyms
  • show-off

    More general; applies to any attention-seeking behaviour, not just acting.

  • scene-stealer

    More positive connotation; suggests the performer is entertainingly over-the-top rather than simply bad.

Usage Note

Frequently used in theater and film criticism, or informally to describe anyone who seeks attention through over-the-top behavior. Less negative when applied to amateur or comic performers.

3. someone who runs their own radio transmission equipment for personal enjoyment a

3.nounB2
Definition

someone who runs their own radio transmission equipment for personal enjoyment and non-commercial communication, usually under a government-issued license that allows access to reserved frequencies.

Example

Ada's grandfather has been a licensed ham for over forty years and talks to operators in Brazil every week.

collocation: licensed ham + what they do

During the hurricane, local hams helped coordinate emergency supplies for the shelters.

Common collocations
  • licensed ham
  • ham radio
  • ham operator
  • ham license
  • ham station
Synonyms
  • radio amateur

    The formal, technical term; 'ham' is the colloquial shortening used within the hobby.

Usage Note

The term originated as mildly derogatory slang but is now used with pride within the amateur radio community. 'Ham radio' and 'ham operator' are the common compounds.

ham — verb

Word family

  • hammy
    adjectiveC1
  • hammed
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words come from pigs, but they refer to different cuts and preparations. Pork is the broadest term — any meat from a pig. Ham is the meat from the upper leg or shoulder that has been cured with salt or smoke; it is usually sold cooked and ready to eat cold, or roasted whole. Bacon comes from the belly or back of the pig; it is cured and sliced into thin strips that are fried until crispy. In British English, gammon refers to ham that has been cured but not yet cooked — it is typically sold as a thick steak to be fried or grilled and served hot. If someone orders a 'ham sandwich,' they expect cold sliced cured leg meat; a 'bacon sandwich' means hot crispy fried belly strips. 'Gammon steak' in the UK is a thick piece of uncooked cured ham, fried and served with eggs or pineapple.

ham ↗bacon ↗pork ↗gammon

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

The word 'ham' comes from Old English 'hamm,' which originally meant the hollow or bend of the knee — the area where the meat cut is located. The food sense (cured leg of pork) appeared first. Around the late 1800s, 'ham' became theater slang for a bad actor who overacts, possibly shortened from 'hamfatter' (a low-grade performer). The amateur radio sense appeared in the early 1900s, possibly from the same 'hamfatter' source, implying a 'poor' operator — though radio hobbyists later adopted the term with pride.