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