Rotating or sliding parts in machines that convert continuous motion into back-and-forth movement, or short for 'cameras' in informal contexts.
From Latin 'camma' meaning 'crooked,' referring to the mechanical part's curved, bent shape. In its modern technical sense, cams have been crucial in engines and machinery since the industrial revolution.
Cams are the unsung heroes of every car engine—these oddly-shaped lobes push on other parts thousands of times per minute to make your engine run! The word's Latin root literally means 'crooked,' which perfectly describes their weird shapes.
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