dram

¹ American  

[dram] / dræm /

noun

1. Measurements.

   1. a unit of apothecaries' weight, equal to 60 grains, or 1/8 (0.125) ounce (3.89 grams).

   2. 1/16 (0.0625) ounce, avoirdupois weight (27.34 grains; 1.77 grams). dr., dr

2. fluid dram.

3. a small drink of liquor.

4. a small quantity of anything.

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verb (used without object)

drammed, dramming

1. Archaic. to drink drams; tipple.

verb (used with object)

drammed, dramming

1. Archaic. to ply with drink.

DRAM ² American  

[dee-ram] / ˈdiˌræm /

abbreviation

Computers.

1. dynamic RAM.

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dram ¹ British  

/ dræm /

noun

1. one sixteenth of an ounce (avoirdupois). 1 dram is equivalent to 0.0018 kilogram

2. Also called: drachm.   drachma.  one eighth of an apothecaries' ounce; 60 grains. 1 dram is equivalent to 0.0039 kilogram

3. a small amount of an alcoholic drink, esp a spirit; tot

4. the standard monetary unit of Armenia, divided into 100 lumas

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DRAM ² British  

/ ˈdiːræm /

acronym

1. dynamic random access memory: a widely used type of random access memory See RAM 1

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noun

1. a chip containing such a memory

Other Word Forms

• half-dram adjective

Etymology

Origin of dram

1400–50; late Middle English dramme, assimilated variant of dragme < Old French < Late Latin dragma, Latin drachma drachma

Example Sentences

It was, after all, an illegal dram shop during Prohibition and the need for secrecy was essential, especially since the queer patrons themselves were breaking the law by openly existing in public.

From Salon

To him, spirits provided what he called “accessible luxury” to customers — a dram of the good life even in an unstable economy.

From New York Times

White has just played 90. b2-b3 when the dram really kicks in.

From Washington Times

In 2017 a Swiss hotel drew notice for selling the world’s most expensive dram to a Chinese tourist.

From New York Times

A twist on an Old Fashioned adds allspice dram for clove, cinnamon and pepper, and the Manhattan becomes sweetly smoky with the addition of Oolong tea.

From Washington Post