spam

noun

/spæm/

[uncountable]

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(informal, disapproving) advertising material sent by email to people who have not asked for it
- to send/block spam
- I get thousands of spam emails each month.
- Tougher laws and improved spam filters can help cut down on spam reaching your inbox.
Collocations Email and the internet
Email and the internetEmail
- receive/get/open an email
- write/send/answer/forward/delete an email
- check/read/access your email
- block/filter (out) junk/spam/unsolicited email
- exchange email addresses
- open/check your inbox
- junk mail fills/floods/clogs your inbox
- have/set up an email account
- open/send/contain an attachment
- sign up for/receive email alerts
Connecting to the internet
- use/access/log onto the internet/the Web
- go online/on the internet
- have a high-speed/broadband/wireless (internet) connection
- access/connect to/locate the server
- use/open/close/launch a/your web browser
- browse/surf/search/scour the internet/the Web
- send/contain/spread/detect a(n) (computer/email) virus
- update your anti-virus software
- install/use/configure a firewall
- accept/enable/block/delete cookies
Using the internet
- visit/check a website/an internet site/somebody’s blog
- create/design/launch a website/social networking site
- start/write/post/read a blog
- update your blog/a website
- be in/meet somebody in/go into/enter an internet chat room
- download/upload music/software/a song/a podcast/a file/a copy of something
- share information/data/files
- post a comment/message on a(n) website/online message board/web forum/internet chat room
- stream video/audio/music/content over the internet
- join/participate in/visit/provide a(n) (web-based/web/online/internet/discussion) forum
- generate/increase/monitor internet traffic
compare junk mail, spimTopics Businessc1, Phones, email and the internetc1
Spam™
cooked meat that has been cut up in very small pieces that are pressed together in a container, usually sold in cans and served cold in slices
CultureSpam is made mainly from ham (= pig meat) and was widely used to feed US soldiers during the Second World War, when it also became popular in Britain. It is still popular in the US today but less so in Britain.
Topics Foodc2

Word Origin1930s: apparently from sp(iced h)am. The internet sense appears to derive from a sketch by the British “Monty Python” comedy group, set in a cafe in which every item on the menu includes spam.

spam

verb

/spæm/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they spam	/spæm/ /spæm/
he / she / it spams	/spæmz/ /spæmz/
past simple spammed	/spæmd/ /spæmd/
past participle spammed	/spæmd/ /spæmd/
-ing form spamming	/ˈspæmɪŋ/ /ˈspæmɪŋ/

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spam somebody/something to send the same message to large numbers of internet users who have not requested the information
- Some companies will keep spamming you until you change your email address.
- Some idiot has been spamming my blog with comments.
Topics Phones, email and the internetb2
Word Origin1930s: apparently from sp(iced h)am. The internet sense appears to derive from a sketch by the British “Monty Python” comedy group, set in a cafe in which every item on the menu includes spam.