jam

[ jam ]

/ dʒæm /

verb (used with object), jammed, jam·ming.

to press, squeeze, or wedge tightly between bodies or surfaces, so that motion or extrication is made difficult or impossible: The ship was jammed between two rocks.

to bruise or crush by squeezing: She jammed her hand in the door.

to fill too tightly; cram: He jammed the suitcase with clothing.

to press, push, or thrust violently, as into a confined space or against some object: She jammed her foot on the brake.

to fill or block up by crowding; pack or obstruct: Crowds jammed the doors.

to put or place in position with a violent gesture (often followed by on): He jammed his hat on and stalked out of the room.

to make (something) unworkable by causing parts to become stuck, blocked, caught, displaced, etc.: to jam a lock.

Radio.

to interfere with (radio signals or the like) by sending out other signals of approximately the same frequency.
(of radio signals or the like) to interfere with (other signals).

to play (a piece) in a freely improvised, swinging way; jazz up: to jam both standard tunes and the classics.

Nautical. to head (a sailing ship) as nearly as possible into the wind without putting it in stays or putting it wholly aback.

verb (used without object), jammed, jam·ming.

to become stuck, wedged, fixed, blocked, etc.: This door jams easily.

to press or push, often violently, as into a confined space or against one another: They jammed into the elevator.

(of a machine, part, etc.) to become unworkable, as through the wedging or displacement of a part.

Jazz. to participate in a jam session.

noun

the act of jamming or the state of being jammed.

a mass of objects, vehicles, etc., jammed together or otherwise unable to move except slowly: a log jam; a traffic jam.

Informal. a difficult or embarrassing situation; fix: He got himself into a jam with his boss.

jam session.

Origin of jam

1700–10; apparently imitative; cf. champ¹, dam¹

Words nearby jam

jalisco, jalopy, jalor, jalouse, jalousie, jam, jam nut, jam session, jam-pack, jam-packed, jam-up

Example sentences from the Web for jamming

Jamming Netanyahu at the UN will buck him up among the right.

Why We Should Delay The Israel-Palestinian Peace Process |Aaron David Miller |December 19, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
On The Tonight Show recently, Clinton was jamming alongside Questlove and The Roots.

George Clinton on Industry ‘Mobsters’ and How Nobody Wants to Listen to a Crackhead |Curtis Stephen |November 19, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
What the JSF does have is a jamming function—also known as “electronic attack,” or EA, in militaryese—in the radar.

New U.S. Stealth Jet Can’t Hide From Russian Radar |Bill Sweetman |April 28, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
If jamming with Tom Morello on a bunch of castoffs and covers is good enough for Peter, then fine.

‘High Hopes’ Review: Bruce Springsteen Lowers the Bar |Andrew Romano |January 7, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

Just a few days ago, I saw a video of ten-year-old Brandon Niederauer jamming with 73-year-old Little Freddie King.

Do Blues Musicians Need to be Really, Really Old? |Ted Gioia |September 22, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
His hat was jammed on to his head and had been almost smashed in the jamming.

Ayala's Angel |Anthony Trollope
He glared at me again and then, jamming his hat on his head, stalked stiffly out.

Paradise Garden |George Gibbs
He threw himself at the arm, catching it with his right hand just above the wrist and jamming it tight to the floor.

The Coming of the Law |Charles Alden Seltzer
It was all one movement, Bannon's jamming that hat—the silk hat—down on his head, and diving through the door.

Calumet 'K' |Samuel Merwin
It will stand a great deal of jamming about, but is very difficult to mend if ever you do punch a hole in it.

Camp and Trail |Stewart Edward White

British Dictionary definitions for jamming (1 of 3)

jamming

/ (ˈdʒæmɪŋ) /

noun

mountaineering a rock-climbing technique in which holds are got by wedging the hands and feet in suitable cracks

British Dictionary definitions for jamming (2 of 3)

jam ¹

/ (dʒæm) /

verb jams, jamming or jammed

(tr) to cram or wedge into or against something to jam paper into an incinerator

(tr) to crowd or pack cars jammed the roads

to make or become stuck or locked the switch has jammed

(tr often foll by on) to activate suddenly (esp in the phrase jam on the brakes)

(tr) to block; congest to jam the drain with rubbish

(tr) to crush, bruise, or squeeze; smash

radio to prevent the clear reception of (radio communications or radar signals) by transmitting other signals on the same frequency

(intr) slang to play in a jam session

noun

a crowd or congestion in a confined space a traffic jam

the act of jamming or the state of being jammed

informal a difficult situation; predicament to help a friend out of a jam

See jam session

Derived forms of jam

jammer, noun

Word Origin for jam

C18: probably of imitative origin; compare champ 1

British Dictionary definitions for jamming (3 of 3)

jam ²

/ (dʒæm) /

noun

a preserve containing fruit, which has been boiled with sugar until the mixture sets

slang something desirable you want jam on it

jam today the principle of living for the moment

Word Origin for jam

C18: perhaps from jam 1 (the act of squeezing)

Medical definitions for jamming

jam

[ jăm ]

v.

To block, congest, or clog.

To crush or bruise.

Idioms and Phrases with jamming

jam

see under get in a bind.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

jam

verb (used with object), jammed, jam·ming.

verb (used without object), jammed, jam·ming.

noun

Origin of jam

Words nearby jam

Example sentences from the Web for jamming

British Dictionary definitions for jamming (1 of 3)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for jamming (2 of 3)

verb jams, jamming or jammed

noun

Derived forms of jam

Word Origin for jam

British Dictionary definitions for jamming (3 of 3)

noun

Word Origin for jam

Medical definitions for jamming

v.

Idioms and Phrases with jamming

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

jam

verb (used with object), jammed, jam·ming.

verb (used without object), jammed, jam·ming.

noun

Origin of jam

Words nearby jam

Words related to jamming

Example sentences from the Web for jamming

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for jamming (1 of 3)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for jamming (2 of 3)

verb jams, jamming or jammed

noun

Derived forms of jam

Word Origin for jam

British Dictionary definitions for jamming (3 of 3)

noun

Word Origin for jam

Medical definitions for jamming

v.

Idioms and Phrases with jamming

British Dictionary definitions for jamming (1 of 3)