/ ræm; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb ( -mm- )
1.
[ vn ] ( of a vehicle, a ship, etc. ) to drive into or hit another vehicle, ship, etc. with force, sometimes deliberately :
Two passengers were injured when their taxi was rammed from behind by a bus.
2.
[ vn + adv. / prep. ] to push sth somewhere with force :
She rammed the key into the lock.
( figurative )
The spending cuts had been rammed through Congress.
•
IDIOMS
- ram sth home
—more at throat
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- ram into sth | ram sth into sth
■ noun
1.
a male sheep
—compare ewe
2.
a part in a machine that is used for hitting sth very hard or for lifting or moving things :
hydraulic rams
—see also battering ram
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English ram(m) , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch ram .