v. & n.
—v.tr. & intr. (jammed, jamming)
1 a tr. (usu. foll. by into) squeeze or wedge into a space. b intr. become wedged.
2 a tr. cause (machinery or a component) to become wedged or immovable so that it cannot work. b intr. become jammed in this way.
3 tr. push or cram together in a compact mass.
4 intr. (foll. by in, on to) push or crowd (they jammed on to the bus).
5 tr. a block (a passage, road, etc.) by crowding or obstructing. b (foll. by in) obstruct the exit of (we were jammed in).
6 tr. (usu. foll. by on) apply (brakes etc.) forcefully or abruptly.
7 tr. make (a radio transmission) unintelligible by causing interference.
8 colloq. (in jazz etc.) extemporize with other musicians.
—n.
1 a squeeze or crush.
2 a crowded mass (traffic jam).
3 colloq. an awkward situation or predicament.
4 a stoppage (of a machine etc.) due to jamming.
5 (in full jam session) colloq. improvised playing by a group of jazz musicians.
Phrases and idioms:
jam-packed colloq. full to capacity.
Derivatives:
jammer n.
Etymology: imit.
2.
n. & v.
—n.
1 a conserve of fruit and sugar boiled to a thick consistency.
2 Brit. colloq. something easy or pleasant (money for jam).
—v.tr. (jammed, jamming)
1 spread jam on.
2 make (fruit etc.) into jam.
Phrases and idioms:
jam tomorrow a pleasant thing often promised but usu. never forthcoming.
Etymology: perh. = JAM(1)
Useful english dictionary. 2012.