tram

¹

[tram]

noun

1. British.,  a streetcar.

2. a tramway; tramroad.

3. Also called tramcar. a truck or car on rails for carrying loads in a mine.

4. the vehicle or cage of an overhead carrier.

verb (used with or without object)

trammed, tramming 

1. to convey or travel by tram.

tram

²

[tram]

noun

1. trammel.

verb (used with object)

trammed, tramming 

1. Machinery.,  to adjust (something) correctly.

tram

³

[tram]

noun

1. silk that has been slightly or loosely twisted, used weftwise in weaving silk fabrics.

tram

¹

/ træm /

noun

1. Also called: tramcar. US and Canadian names: streetcar.  trolley car. an electrically driven public transport vehicle that runs on rails let into the surface of the road, power usually being taken from an overhead wire

2. a small vehicle on rails for carrying loads in a mine; tub

tram

²

/ træm /

noun

1. machinery a fine adjustment that ensures correct function or alignment

verb

1. (tr) to adjust (a mechanism) to a fine degree of accuracy

tram

³

/ træm /

noun

1. (in weaving) a weft yarn of two or more twisted strands of silk

Other Word Forms

• tramless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tram¹

First recorded in 1490–1500; Middle English tram, tram(me) “mechanical device, astronomical instrument, siege tower”); 1820–30 tram ¹ for def. 2; originally shafts of a barrow or cart, rails for carts (in mines); perhaps from Middle Dutch trame “beam”

Origin of tram²

First recorded in 1880–85; short for trammel

Origin of tram³

First recorded in 1670–80; from French trame “woof, weft, tram,” from Latin trāma “warp,” from trahere “to draw, drag”

Word History and Origins

Origin of tram¹

C16 (in the sense: shaft of a cart): probably from Low German traam beam; compare Old Norse thrömr , Middle Dutch traem beam, tooth of a rake

Origin of tram²

C19: short for _trammel

Origin of tram³

C17: from French trame , from Latin trāma ; related to Latin trāns across, trāmes footpath

Example Sentences

On weekends, South Coast will run a separately ticketed, eight-passenger tram dubbed the “Pangaea Express” that will include a tour of the exhibit with dinosaur and garden facts.

From Los Angeles Times

One test saw a bowl of water strapped to the front of the tram, with the driver tasked with braking smoothly in an effort to not spill any liquid.

From BBC

Slash has a deep fascination with Universal Studios, made clear by his knowledge of how the park’s backlot tram trek — officially designated as the World-Famous Studio Tour — has shifted over the years.

From Los Angeles Times

"People jumped out of the window of that tram... just as this happened, I saw the incident tram crash over into the building next to the Subway restaurant."

From BBC

Lyster said Anaheim officials also have been in touch with Tesla and Waymo about options for driverless shuttles or trams, and with a company called Glydways that pitches small driverless vehicles operating along dedicated pathways.

From Los Angeles Times