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/ham/
Meaning & Definition
noun
A cut of meat from the back leg of a hog or pig, typically cured or smoked.
For dinner, we served a delicious honey-glazed ham.
The hind leg of an animal, especially when preserved or cured.
He ordered a plate of thinly sliced ham with cheese.
A performer who exaggerates or overacts.
The actor was such a ham, always striving for the laugh.
verb
To play the role of a ham actor; to overact.
He loves to ham it up in front of the audience.
Etymology
Middle English 'ham', from Old English 'ham(g)', meaning 'home, dwelling, or the back of the knee'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
ham it up
To overact or exaggerate behavior.
ham sandwich
A simple but often unremarkable meal.
ham-handed
Clumsy or awkward in handling situations.
Related Words
pork
The meat of a domestic pig.
charcuterie
Cured meats and other prepared food items.
backham
The hind leg of a pig, typically cured.
Slang Meanings
A person who draws attention to themselves or their antics, often negatively.
She was such a ham at the party, always making jokes and loud comments.
An amateur radio operator.
He spends hours chatting with other hams around the world.