English▸ verb
( jams, jamming, jammed)
1 [with object and adverbial] squeeze or pack tightly into a specified space:
four of us were jammed in one compartment
people jammed their belongings into cars
[no object, with adverbial] mum, dad, and I jammed into the pickup truck.
▪ push (something) roughly and forcibly into position or a space:
he jammed his hat on.
▪ [with object] crowd on to (a road or area) so as to block it:
the streets were jammed with tourist coaches.
▪ [with object] cause (phone lines) to be continuously engaged with a large number of calls:
listeners jammed a radio station's switchboard with calls.
2 become or make unable to move or work due to a part seizing up or becoming stuck:
[no object] the photocopier jammed
[with object] the doors were jammed open.
▪ [with object] make (a broadcast or other electronic signal) unintelligible by causing interference:
they were jamming broadcasts by the pirate radio ships.
3 [no object] informal improvise with other musicians, especially in jazz or blues:
he had the opportunity to jam with Atlanta blues musicians.
▸ noun
1 an instance of a thing seizing or becoming stuck:
paper jams.
▪ Climbing a hold obtained by jamming a part of the body such as a hand or foot into a crack in the rock.
3 (also jam session) an improvised performance by a group of musicians, especially in jazz or blues.
▪ (especially in dance or urban music) a song or track:
an ultra catchy jam, driven by the drums but given substance by the interjection of horns
the band dedicated about a quarter of the set to new jams.