jam

Universal Words noun, verb noun sweet food 1 [U,C] a thick sweet substance made by boiling fruit with sugar, often sold in JARS and spread on bread: strawberry jam * recipes for jams and preserves * (BrE) a jam doughnut compareJELLY, MARMALADE many people / vehicles 2 [C] a situation in which it is difficult or impossible to move because there are so many people or vehicles in one particular place: The bus was delayed in a five-mile jam. * As fans rushed to leave, jams formed at all the exits. seealsoTRAFFICJAM IDIOMS be in a jam (informal) to be in a difficult situation jam tomorrow (BrE, informal) good things that are promised for the future but never happen: They refused to settle for a promise of jam tomorrow. moreatMONEY verb (-mm-) push with force 1 [VN+adv./prep.] to push sth somewhere with a lot of force: He jammed his fingers in his ears. * A stool had been jammed against the door. stop moving / working 2 ~ (sth) (up) to become unable to move or work; to make sth do this: [V] The photocopier keeps jamming up. * [VN] There's a loose part that keeps jamming the mechanism. * [V-ADJ] The valve has jammed shut. * [VN-ADJ] He jammed the door open with a piece of wood. put into small space 3 [+adv./prep.] to put sb/sth into a small space where there is very little room to move: [VN] Six of us were jammed into one small car. * We were jammed together like sardines in a can. * The cupboards were jammed full of old newspapers. * [V] Nearly 1000 students jammed into the hall. seealsoJAM-PACKED fill with people / things 4 [VN] ~ sth (up) (with sb/sth) to fill sth with a large number of people or things so that it is unable to function as it should: Viewers jammed the switchboard with complaints. radio broadcast 5 [VN] (technical) to send out radio signals to prevent another radio broadcast from being heard play music 6 [V, VN] to play music with other musicians in an informal way without preparing or practising first IDIOMS jam on the brake(s)