jam */

I UK [dʒæm] / US noun
Word forms "jam":
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

2) [countable, usually singular] a difficult situation

3) [countable] a long line of vehicles that are not moving, or are moving very slowly

4) [countable] an occasion when a machine does not work because something prevents its parts from moving

a paper jam in the printer

5) [countable] informal a jam session

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- jam tomorrow

II UK [dʒæm] / US verb
Word forms "jam":
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.

2) [transitive, often passive] if 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.

3)

a) 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.

b) [transitive] to block something so that it stops working or moving

A small stone had jammed the pump.

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.

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.

6) [transitive] to block a radio, television, or other electronic signal by broadcasting another signal on the same wavelength

7) [intransitive] music informal to play music in an informal way with a group of people

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jam something open/shut — to make a door or window stay open or shut by pushing something under it or against it

There was no lock on the front door which had to be jammed shut at night with heavy furniture.

Phrasal verbs:

- jam on

- jam up