Amsterdam
|Am-ster-dam|
🇺🇸
/ˈæmstərdæm/
🇬🇧
/ˈæmstədæm/
dam on the Amstel → Dutch capital
Etymology
'Amsterdam' originates from Dutch (Middle Dutch), specifically a compound of the river name 'Amstel' and 'dam', where 'Amstel' referred to the river and 'dam' meant a barrier or dike.
'Amsterdam' changed from Middle Dutch forms such as 'Amestelledamme' (recorded in the 13th century) and was later shortened and regularized to the modern form 'Amsterdam'.
Initially it meant 'the dam on the Amstel (river)', but over time the name came to denote the settlement that grew there and eventually the major city and national capital.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the capital and largest city of the Netherlands, located in the province of North Holland; famous for its canals, museums, historic architecture, and cultural life.
She spent a week exploring Amsterdam's museums and canals.
Noun 2
a municipality or metropolitan area centered on the city of Amsterdam (administrative or geographic sense).
The Amsterdam metropolitan area includes several surrounding towns and suburbs.
Noun 3
a place name used for other locations or entities (e.g., Amsterdam, New York; ships or companies named 'Amsterdam').
He grew up in Amsterdam, New York, before moving to Albany.
Last updated: 2025/08/14 14:14