jam

[dʒæm] noun I

1) [C/U] a sweet sticky food made from boiled fruit and sugar, that is usually spread onto bread

strawberry jam[/ex]

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

a paper jam in the printer[/ex]

•

be in a jam — informal to be in a difficult situation[/ex]

See:

traffic jam

II

verb

jam [dʒæm]

1) [T] to use force to put something into a small space

I tried to jam some paper into the cracks.[/ex]

2) [T] if people or things jam a place, there are so many of them that it is difficult to move

The streets were jammed with cars.[/ex]

3) [I/T] if a machine, lock, window etc jams, or if something jams it, it does not work because something stops it from moving

He fired one shot before his gun jammed.[/ex]

4) [T] to block a radio, television, or other electronic signal