JAM


Meaning of JAM in English

I. verb

also jamb ˈjam, -aa(ə)-

( jammed also jambed ; jammed also jambed ; jamming also jambing ; jams also jambs )

Etymology: perhaps of imitative origin

transitive verb

1.

a. : to press into a close or tight position : wedge in

jams the piano between the sides of the doorway

: fix tightly

jam his hat on his head

jam his teeth together to stop their chattering

: squeeze

jam 50 people into a bus designed for 30

b.

(1) : to cause (as some movable part of a machine) to become wedged or fixed so as to be unworkable

a misstroke will jam the typewriter keys

(2) : to make (as a machine) unworkable by such jamming

crashed when a loose nut jammed the controls

c. : to impede or block passage of or along : obstruct

could not get through because traffic was completely jammed by the crowd

the communications channels were jammed up with priority messages — Ira Wolfert

d. : to fill or cause to fill closely or to excess : pack

fans jam the stadium

newspaper columns were jammed with election propaganda

jams authentic details into his stories

2. : to push or apply forcibly : force violently

jammed himself through the porthole

jammed his spurs into the horse's flanks

jam the bill through a reluctant legislature by party discipline

jamming political opinions down students' throats — Kenneth Roberts

specifically : to apply (the brakes) suddenly with full force — usually used with on

would jam the brakes on and throw the passengers forward

3. : crush , bruise

got his right hand severly jammed in the door

4. : to bring (a boat) close to the wind so that the upper sails are shaking or laid aback

jam the boat into the wind to avoid collision

5.

a. : to cause interference in (radio or radar signals) : make unintelligible (as a radio program or broadcast) by intentionally sending out signals or messages in an interfering manner

b. : to make (as a radio or radar apparatus) ineffective by jamming radio or radar signals or by causing reflection of radar waves from a special device

intransitive verb

1.

a. : to become blocked, wedged, or fixed : stick fast

an odd cartridge may jam in the gun

the line jammed and the boat hung useless

b. : to become unworkable through the jamming of a movable part

the overheated machine jammed

2. : to force one's way especially into a restricted space : mass together tightly : crowd

continued to jam into the already crowded hall

the children jammed forward to claim their treats

3. : to improvise on a musical instrument with a group : take part in a jam session

gathered after hours with their instruments and jammed all night

Synonyms: see press

II. noun

( -s )

1. : something made closely packed, immovable, or unusable by jamming : an instance of jamming

lost the pistol match due to a jam during the rapid fire

specifically : a crowded mass of people or things causing impedance or blockage

a log jam in the river

a flood caused by an ice jam

delayed an hour by a traffic jam

2.

a. : the quality or state of being jammed : stoppage , congestion

the jam of the legislature caused by the piling up of new bills in the final days

b. : the pressure or congestion of a crowd of people or things : crush

escape from the clangor and jam of the city streets

3. : an involved and embarrassing state of affairs : difficulty , mess , fix : a tight spot

made him late for his date and got him in a jam with his girl friend

can get out of its jam by finding new foreign markets for its products

4. : jam session

Synonyms: see predicament

III. adverb

: completely , clear

filled the jar jam full

threw the ball jam across the field

IV. noun

( -s )

Etymology: probably from jam (I)

1. : a product made by boiling fruit and sugar to a thick consistency without preserving the shape of the fruit

spread raspberry jam on a slice of bread

2. chiefly Britain : something agreeable or easy

this job isn't all jam ; it has its headaches

the test was jam for him and he finished first

3.

[so called from its scent that resembles that of raspberry jam]

: a shrubby acacia ( Acacia acuminata ) with elongated slender phyllodes and cylindrical axillary spikes of yellow flowers that is an important browse plant in much of Western Australia

V. transitive verb

( jammed ; jammed ; jamming ; jams )

1. : to spread with jam

munching jammed bread

2. : to make into jam

fresh, preserved, or jammed fruit

VI. ˈjäm noun

( -s )

Etymology: Hindi jām

: the ruler is some northwest Indian states in the region of Cutch, Kathiawar, and the lower Indus

VII. noun

1. : a round in roller derby in which a jammer from each team attempts to circle the course and pass members of the opposing team in order to score points

2. slang : song 3

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.