JAM


Meaning of JAM in English

1. v. & n.

--v.tr. & intr. (jammed, jamming)

1. a tr. (usu. foll. by into) squeeze or wedge into a space. b intr. become wedged.

2 a tr. cause (machinery or a component) to become wedged or immovable so that it cannot work. b intr. become jammed in this way.

3 tr. push or cram together in a compact mass.

4 intr. (foll. by in, on to) push or crowd (they jammed on to the bus).

5 tr. a block (a passage, road, etc.) by crowding or obstructing. b (foll. by in) obstruct the exit of (we were jammed in).

6 tr. (usu. foll. by on) apply (brakes etc.) forcefully or abruptly.

7 tr. make (a radio transmission) unintelligible by causing interference.

8 colloq. (in jazz etc.) extemporize with other musicians.

--n.

1. a squeeze or crush.

2 a crowded mass (traffic jam).

3 colloq. an awkward situation or predicament.

4 a stoppage (of a machine etc.) due to jamming.

5 (in full jam session) colloq. improvised playing by a group of jazz musicians.

Phrases and idioms:

jam-packed colloq. full to capacity.

Derivatives:

jammer n.

Etymology: imit. 2. n. & v.

--n.

1. a conserve of fruit and sugar boiled to a thick consistency.

2 Brit. colloq. something easy or pleasant (money for jam).

--v.tr. (jammed, jamming)

1. spread jam on.

2 make (fruit etc.) into jam.

Phrases and idioms:

jam tomorrow a pleasant thing often promised but usu. never forthcoming.

Etymology: perh. JAM(1)

Oxford English vocab.      Оксфордский английский словарь.