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

Oddly, Sphere’s “Oz” loses a dram of its spellcraft once audiences touch down in Munchkinland.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 3, 2025

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

From Washington Times • Aug. 9, 2022

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

From New York Times • Jan. 6, 2022

But for die-hard fans of particular brands, finding a new favorite dram could mean purchasing something different while accepting their favorite champagne, tequila or cognac may be unavailable for a while.

From Salon • Jul. 27, 2021

“It was some broken wittles—that’s what it was—and a dram of liquor, and a pie.”

From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens