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 • Mar. 31, 2025

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 • Jun. 14, 2023

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

From Washington Times • Aug. 9, 2022

Miranda meets three men in a bar — “the Weird Brethren” — who offer her a golden dram, serenade her with “C’Mon Get Happy” like late-stage Judy Garlands, stroke her cheek.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 5, 2021

Yegey poured out another dram around of lifewater.

From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin