jam

Marmalade, a type of jam, spread on a piece of bread

Meanings

Noun

  • A sweet mixture of fruit boiled with sugar and allowed to congeal. Often spread on bread or toast or used in jam tarts.
  • A difficult situation.
  • Blockage, congestion.
  • An informal, impromptu performance or rehearsal.
  • A song; a track.
  • An informal event where people brainstorm and collaborate on projects.
  • That which one particularly prefers, desires, enjoys, or cares about.
  • A difficult situation for a pitcher or defending team.
  • A forceful dunk.
  • A play during which points can be scored.
  • Any of several maneuvers requiring wedging of an extremity into a tight space.
  • The tree Acacia acuminata (species), with fruity-smelling hard timber.
  • Luck.
  • Sexual relations or the contemplation of them.
  • A kind of frock for children.
  • Alternative of jamb

Verb

  • To get something stuck, often (though not necessarily) in a confined space.
  • To brusquely force something into a space; cram, squeeze.
  • To cause congestion or blockage. Often used with "up"
  • To block or confuse a broadcast signal.
  • To throw a pitch at or near the batter's hands.
  • To dunk.
  • To play music (especially improvisation as a group, or an informal unrehearsed session).
  • To injure a finger or toe by sudden compression of the digit's tip.
  • To attempt to score points.
  • To bring (a vessel) so close to the wind that half her upper sails are laid aback.
  • To give up on a date or some joint endeavour; stand up, chicken out, jam out.

Related

Similar words

Origin

  • First attested in the early 18th c. as a verb meaning “to press, be pressed, be wedged in”. Originally onomatopoeic, perhaps identical with Middle English chammen, champen, whence modern champ, chomp.
  • Persian or Hindi, meaning "garment, robe;" see جامه. Related to pajamas.

Modern English dictionary

Explore and search massive catalog of over 900,000 word meanings.

Word of the Day

Get a curated memorable word every day.

Challenge yourself

Level up your vocabulary by setting personal goals.

And much more

Try out Vedaist now.