Cam

1. (n.) A turning or sliding piece which, by the shape of its periphery or face, or a groove in its surface, imparts variable or intermittent motion to, or receives such motion from, a rod, lever, or block brought into sliding or rolling contact with it.

2. (n.) A curved wedge, movable about an axis, used for forcing or clamping two pieces together.

3. (n.) A projecting part of a wheel or other moving piece so shaped as to give alternate or variable motion to another piece against which it acts.

4. (n.) A ridge or mound of earth.

5. (a.) Crooked.

Thesaurus Entries

aside, askant, askew, asquint, awry, broadside, broadside on, cam, captiously, censoriously, cock-a-hoop, cockeyed, crabwise, critically, crookedly, cynically, disapprovingly, distrustfully, doubtfully, doubtingly, edgeway, edgeways, edgewise, glancingly, laterad, laterally, on its side, on the beam, reproachfully, right and left, sideling, sidelong, sideward, sidewards, sideway, sideways, sidewise, sidling, skeptically, suspiciously, unfavorably