JAM

noun

1
just about managing (families): an unofficial UK government acronym for people who are in work and getting by, but only just
Politicians have known about the Jams and vied for their allegiance for years.
Submitted from:
United Kingdom on 21/11/2016
Open Dictionary - November2016

JAM

noun

1
just about managing (families): an unofficial UK government acronym for people who are in work and getting by, but only just
Politicians have known about the Jams and vied for their allegiance for years.
Submitted from:
United Kingdom on 21/11/2016
Open Dictionary - November2016

jam

noun

UK /dʒæm/

Word Forms

singular	jam
plural	jams

1
countable/uncountable a sweet sticky food made from boiled fruit and sugar that is usually spread onto bread
strawberry jam
a jar of jam
a jam tart
Synonyms and related words
Food spread on bread
butter
caviar
jam
2
countable usually singulara difficult situation
Synonyms and related words
Difficult situations and experiences
crisis
battle
nightmare
3
countable a long line of vehicles that are not moving, or are moving very slowly
Synonyms and related words
Traffic movements and traffic jams
back up
bottleneck
bumper-to-bumper
4
countable an occasion when a machine does not work because something prevents its parts from moving
a paper jam in the printer
Synonyms and related words
Problems with machines
bit rot
breakdown
bug
5
countable informala jam session
Synonyms and related words
Musical performances
concert
gig
jam
6
not someone’s jam
not something that you enjoy or are interested in
You know what’s not my jam? People doing nothing.
Submitted from:
United Kingdom on 26/04/2017
Open Dictionary - April2017

phrases

jam tomorrow

jam

noun

US /dʒæm/

Word Forms

singular	jam
plural	jams

1
countable/uncountable a sweet sticky food made from boiled fruit and sugar that is usually spread onto bread
strawberry jam
a jar of jam
Synonyms and related words
Food spread on bread
butter
caviar
jam
2
countable a long line of vehicles that are not moving, or are moving very slowly
Synonyms and related words
Traffic movements and traffic jams
back up
bottleneck
bumper-to-bumper
3
countable an occasion when a machine does not work because something prevents its parts from moving
a paper jam in the printer
Synonyms and related words
Problems with machines
bit rot
breakdown
bug
4
countable usually singulara difficult situation
Synonyms and related words
Difficult situations and experiences
crisis
battle
nightmare
5
countable informala jam session
Synonyms and related words
Musical performances
concert
gig
hula
6
not someone’s jam
not something that you enjoy or are interested in
You know what’s not my jam? People doing nothing.
Submitted from:
United Kingdom on 26/04/2017
Open Dictionary - April2017

phrases

jam tomorrow

jam

verb

UK /dʒæm/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	jam
he/she/it	jams
present participle	jamming
past tense	jammed
past participle	jammed

1
transitive to push someone or something somewhere using a lot of force
jam someone/something into/on/against something:
Marilyn jammed the hat firmly on her head and went out.
Mick jammed a copy of the report into my hand.
Kirsten was trying to jam all the papers into her bag.
Synonyms and related words
To move, or to try to move something by pushing
push
shove
heave
2
transitive often passiveif people or things jam a place, there are so many of them that it is difficult to move
Thousands jammed the area to see the Pope.
jam someone/something into something:
Four men were jammed into the back of the car.
jam something with something:
The streets were jammed with cars.
Synonyms and related words
To fill a thing or place
fill
cram
stuff
3

jam
or
jam up
intransitive if a machine, lock, window etc jams, it does not work because something stops it from moving
He fired one shot before his gun jammed.
Synonyms and related words
To stop working (of a piece of equipment)
break down
go off
shut off
Synonyms and related words
Engine and machine behaviour
backfire
burn up
come to life
1. 3a
  transitive to block something so that it stops working or moving
  A small stone had jammed the pump.
  Synonyms and related words
  To make a machine or piece of machinery stop working
  break
  brick
  cannibalise
4
transitive to injure part of your body because it gets pressed or squeezed between two hard things
The window suddenly dropped down and jammed her finger.
Synonyms and related words
To injure yourself or someone else
injure
harm
wound
5
intransitive/transitive if a telephone system jams or is jammed, it stops working because too many people are making calls at the same time
Only a few minutes after the programme, the switchboard was jammed with complaints.
Synonyms and related words
Using a telephone
answer
busy
call
6
transitive to block a radio, television, or other electronic signal by broadcasting another signal on the same wavelength
Synonyms and related words
Radio, radar and sonar signals
atmospherics
directional
footprint
7
intransitive musicinformalto play music in an informal way with a group of people
Synonyms and related words
Playing, performing and arranging music
accompany
arrange
articulation

phrases

jam something open/shut

phrasal verbs

jam on

jam up

jam

verb

US /dʒæm/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	jam
he/she/it	jams
present participle	jamming
past tense	jammed
past participle	jammed

1
transitive to push someone or something somewhere using a lot of force
jam someone/something into/on/against something:
Marilyn jammed the hat firmly on her head and went out.
Mick jammed a copy of the report into my hand.
Kirsten was trying to jam all the papers into her bag.
Synonyms and related words
To move, or to try to move something by pushing
push
shove
heave
2
transitive often passiveif people or things jam a place, there are so many of them that it is difficult to move
Thousands jammed the area to see the Pope.
jam something with something:
The streets were jammed with cars.
jam someone/something into something:
Four men were jammed into the back of the car.
Synonyms and related words
To fill a thing or place
fill
cram
stuff
3

jam
or
jam up
intransitive if a machine, lock, window, etc. jams, it does not work because something stops it from moving
He fired one shot before his gun jammed.
Synonyms and related words
To stop working (of a piece of equipment)
break down
go off
shut off
Synonyms and related words
Engine and machine behavior
backfire
burn up
come to life
1. 3a
  transitive to block something so that it stops working or moving
  A small stone had jammed the pump.
  Synonyms and related words
  To make a machine or piece of machinery stop working
  break
  brick
  cannibalize
4
intransitive/transitive if a telephone system jams or is jammed, it stops working because too many people are making calls at the same time
Only a few minutes after the program, the switchboard was jammed with complaints.
Synonyms and related words
Using a telephone
answer
busy
busy signal
5
transitive to block a radio, television, or other electronic signal by broadcasting another signal on the same wavelength
Synonyms and related words
Radio, radar and sonar signals
cell
directional
footprint
6
transitive to injure part of your body because it gets pressed or squeezed between two hard things
The window suddenly dropped down and jammed her finger.
Synonyms and related words
To injure yourself or someone else
injure
harm
wound
7
intransitive musicinformalto play music in an informal way with a group of people
Synonyms and related words
Playing, performing and arranging music
accompany
arrange
articulation

phrases

jam something down someone’s throat

jam something open/shut

phrasal verbs

jam on

jam up

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