dam
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dam
A large structure built across a river valley to hold back water. Dams are used for generating electricity, water supply, flood protection, or irrigation.
Der neue Staudamm versorgt die gesamte Region mit sauberer Energie.
The new dam supplies the entire region with clean energy.
The word is made up of the verb 'stauen' (to dam up / accumulate water) and the noun 'der Damm' (a barrier). So a 'Staudamm' (dam) is literally a dam that holds back water.
Der Bau des Staudamms dauerte mehr als zehn Jahre.
The construction of the dam took more than ten years.
'Staudamm' (dam) is related to the verb 'stauen' (to dam up / to back up) and the noun 'der Stau' (traffic jam, for example). All these words share the basic idea that a flow or movement is blocked and stopped.
Der Fluss wird durch den Damm auf einer Länge von 20 Kilometern gestaut.
The river is dammed up by the dam over a length of 20 kilometers.
When talking about the function of a dam, phrases like 'er dient dem Hochwasserschutz' (it serves flood protection), 'erzeugt Strom' (generates electricity), or 'reguliert den Wasserstand' (regulates the water level) are often used.
Dieser Staudamm dient hauptsächlich der Trinkwassergewinnung für die nahegelegene Metropole.
This dam is mainly used to provide drinking water for the nearby metropolis.
dam / embankment / perineum
'der Damm' and 'der Staudamm' can both hold back water. However, 'Damm' is more general and can refer to different structures that impound water or protect against water. 'Staudamm' is more precise: it is usually a large structure in a valley or on a river that dams up water to form a reservoir. The words can easily be confused because every 'Staudamm' is a 'Damm'. But not every 'Damm' is a 'Staudamm'. When you are talking about a large reservoir, electricity generation, or water supply, 'Staudamm' fits better.
Der Staudamm liefert Strom für viele Dörfer in der Region.
The dam supplies electricity to many villages in the region.
Ein niedriger Damm schützt die Felder vor dem Wasser des Baches.
A low dam protects the fields from the water of the stream.