Slam

Slam is a term with multiple meanings across different domains. As a verb, slam commonly means to close something with force or to strike something loudly. It can also mean to criticize or dismiss someone or something harshly. As a noun, slam can refer to a forceful impact or to an organized event or competition that uses a similar sense of performance and force.

Poetry slam refers to a competitive performance format in which poets recite original work aloud to be judged by an audience or panel. The format emphasizes performance and delivery as well as content, and participants are often scored or ranked based on audience response. Poetry slams originated in the 1980s in Chicago and spread to many countries, giving rise to national and international competitions and a broad community of performers.

In basketball, a slam dunk is a high-percentage scoring move in which a player jumps and forcefully pushes the ball downward through the rim. The term conveys speed, power, and spectacle and is widely regarded as a highlight play in the sport.

SLAM also stands for simultaneous localization and mapping in robotics and computer vision. These algorithms build a map of an unknown environment while simultaneously tracking the position of the observer, enabling applications in autonomous vehicles, drones, and augmented reality.

In everyday use, slam can also describe the act of closing a door with impact or, more broadly, being harshly criticized in writing or commentary. In technical contexts, SLAM is commonly capitalized as an acronym.