English
ram
see also: RAM, Ram
Pronunciation
  • (British, America) enPR: răm, IPA: /ɹæm/
Etymology 1

From Middle English ram, rom, ramme, from Old English ramm, from Proto-Germanic *rammaz, possibly from *rammaz.

Noun

ram (plural rams)

  1. (zoology, agriculture) A male sheep, typically uncastrated.
  2. A battering ram; a heavy object used for breaking through doors.
  3. (military, nautical, mostly, historical) A warship intended to sink other ships by ramming them.
  4. (military, nautical, mostly, historical) A reinforced section of the bow of a warship, intended to be used for ramming other ships.
  5. A piston powered by hydraulic pressure.
  6. An act of ramming.
  7. A weight which strikes a blow, in a ramming device such as a pile driver, steam hammer, or stamp mill.
Translations Translations Translations Etymology 2

From Middle English rammen, from the noun (see above).

Verb

ram (rams, present participle ramming; simple past and past participle rammed)

  1. (ambitransitive) To collide with (an object), usually with the intention of damaging it or disabling its function.
    The man, driving an SUV, then rammed the gate, according to police.
  2. (transitive) To strike (something) hard, especially with an implement.
    To build a sturdy fence, you have to ram the posts deep into the ground.
  3. (transitive) To seat a cartridge, projectile, or propellant charge in the breech of a firearm by pushing or striking.
    After placing the cartridge in the musket, ram it down securely with the ramrod.
  4. (transitive, also, figuratively) To force, cram or thrust (someone or something) into or through something.
  5. (transitive) To fill or compact by pounding or driving.
    rammed earth walls
  6. (slang) To thrust during sexual intercourse.
    • 1999, Mr.Web, Size Matters review by mr. web review Group: rec.arts.movies.erotica
      like feel a soft butt against their pelvis or ram a girl really hard with piston-like speed while she begs and screams for more
Translations Translations Etymology 3

Likely from Old Norse ramr, rammr, from Proto-Germanic *rammaz, perhaps ultimately related to Etymology 1 above.

Adjective

ram

  1. (Northern England) Rancid; offensive in smell or taste.
RAM
Pronunciation Noun

ram (plural rams)

  1. (electronics, computing) Acronym of random access memory
    Hyponyms: NVRAM, SRAM, DRAM, SDRAM, FRAM, MRAM, VRAM
    Coordinate terms: ROM, flash memory, bubble memory, core memory, WORM
  2. (computer science) Acronym of random-access machine
    Coordinate term: PRAM
  3. (physical sciences) Acronym of relative atomic mass (sometimes styled r.a.m.)
    Coordinate terms: atomic weight, atomic mass
  4. (project management) Acronym of responsibility assignment matrix
  5. (risk management) Acronym of reliability availability maintainability
  6. (military) Acronym of radar-absorbent material a material which absorbs radar.
Translations
  • French: RAM, mémoire RAM
  • German: RAM
  • Italian: memoria
  • Portuguese: memória RAM
  • Russian: ОЗУ
  • Spanish: RAM, memoria RAM
Proper noun
  1. Init of Royal Academy of Music
  2. Init of Rise Above Movement
Ram
Etymology 1

From ram the animal the constellation resembles.

Proper noun
  1. The constellation Aries.
Etymology 2

From Hebrew רָם.

Proper noun
  1. (biblical figure) The father of Amminadab and the son of Hezron.
  2. A male given name
  3. Surname
  4. Alternative form of Rāma.
  5. One of the two progenitors of the second generation of humans in Mandaeism.
Noun

ram (plural rams)

  1. A US Korean War anti-tank weapon
Etymology 3

From ram the animal of the mascot for the sports team.

Proper noun
  1. (UK, soccer) Someone connected with Derby County Football Club, as a fan, player, coach etc.


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