DAME

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does dame mean? 

• DAME (noun)
  The noun DAME has 2 senses:

1. informal terms for a (young) woman

2. a woman of refinement

  Familiarity information: DAME used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DAME (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Informal terms for a (young) woman

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

bird; chick; dame; doll; skirt; wench

Hypernyms ("dame" is a kind of...):

fille; girl; miss; missy; young lady; young woman (a young female)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A woman of refinement

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

dame; gentlewoman; lady; ma'am; madam

Context example:

a chauffeur opened the door of the limousine for the grand lady

Hypernyms ("dame" is a kind of...):

adult female; woman (an adult female person (as opposed to a man))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "dame"):

grande dame (a middle-aged or elderly woman who is stylish and highly respected)

madame (title used for a married Frenchwoman)

 Context examples 

“The maid is like the young filly, which kicks heels and plunges for very lust of life. Give her time, dame, give her time.”

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“What's amiss, dame?” said Mr. Peggotty.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Her black satin dress, her scarf of rich foreign lace, and her pearl ornaments, pleased me better than the rainbow radiance of the titled dame.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Well, said the old dame, that is no very hard task: only take care not to drink any of the wine which one of the princesses will bring to you in the evening; and as soon as she leaves you pretend to be fast asleep.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

“To France, quotha?” cried the old dame.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

And though I don't comprehend how it is, I perceive you have acquired a degree of regard for that foolish little child Adele, too; and even for simple dame Fairfax?

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

I have indeed seen little of life, good dame.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The enigma then was explained: this affable and kind little widow was no great dame; but a dependant like myself.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Alleyne was plodding down the slope upon one side, when he saw an old dame coming towards him upon the other, limping with weariness and leaning heavily upon a stick.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Nature had surely formed her in a partial mood; and, forgetting her usual stinted step-mother dole of gifts, had endowed this, her darling, with a grand-dame's bounty.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)