rum

[ ruhm ]

/ rʌm /

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noun

an alcoholic liquor or spirit distilled from molasses or some other fermented sugar-cane product.

alcoholic drink in general; intoxicating liquor: He warned against the demon rum.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of rum

First recorded in 1645–55; perhaps short for obsolete rumbullion, rumbustion, of obscure origin

OTHER WORDS FROM rum

rumless, adjective

Words nearby rum

rule the roost, ruling, ruling elder, ruling grade, ruly, rum, rumaki, rumal, Rumania, Rumanian, rumba

Other definitions for rum (2 of 5)

rum²

[ ruhm ]

/ rʌm /

adjective Chiefly British Informal.

odd, strange, or queer: a rum fellow.

problematic; difficult; bad: a rum situation.

Origin of rum

First recorded in 1750–60; earlier rome, room “great,” of uncertain origin; perhaps from Romani; see Rom

Other definitions for rum (3 of 5)

rum³

[ ruhm ]

/ rʌm /

noun Cards.

rummy¹.

Origin of rum

An Americanism dating back to 1870–75; by shortening

Other definitions for rum (4 of 5)

Rum

[ room ]

/ rum /

noun

Arabic name of Rome, once used to designate the Byzantine Empire.

Other definitions for rum (5 of 5)

Rum.

abbreviation

Rumania. See Romania.

Rumanian. See Romanian. Also Rum

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use rum in a sentence

On the night of his death, Martinez and another pledge were told to split a half-gallon bottle of rum, according to the filing.
A freshman was ‘hazed to death,’ his family says. 15 former fraternity members now face charges.|Reis Thebault|June 4, 2021|Washington Post
In 2019, with long straws in hand, friends and I sat around the table, giggling and slurping up the delicious shared rum concoction until we hit ceramic.
How to garnish cocktails, now that you’re clinking glasses with friends again|M. Carrie Allan|May 21, 2021|Washington Post
At Rikki Tiki itself, embrace the tourism factor and order a Key Lime Pie—a mix of rum, ice cream, and fresh lime juice with a graham-cracker crust.
A Cross-Country Guide to the Best Adventure Bars|Graham Averill|April 14, 2021|Outside Online
If the cajeta turns out thicker than you wanted, add warm water, milk or rum, a little at a time, until you reach the desired consistency.
Learn to make cajeta, a Mexican confection with multilayered sweetness and history|Adriana Velez|April 12, 2021|Washington Post

If you want to add liquor, such as rum, or flavoring, do so during the last 10 minutes of cooking.
Learn to make cajeta, a Mexican confection with multilayered sweetness and history|Adriana Velez|April 12, 2021|Washington Post
Remove from heat and stir in the walnuts, rum, powdered sugar, and salt until fully incorporated.
Carla Hall’s Christmas Day Treat: Rum Balls|Carla Hall|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Heat the rum in a small skillet over medium until reduce by half.
Carla Hall’s Christmas Day Treat: Rum Balls|Carla Hall|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Make a batch of these rum balls, climb into a onesie, and let your favorite movie do the rest.
Carla Hall’s Christmas Day Treat: Rum Balls|Carla Hall|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Phonetic, made-up lyrics are another venerable tradition of folk music, and “pa-rum-pa-pa-pum” is iconic of the genre.
Yes, I Like Christmas Music. Stop Laughing.|Michael Tomasky|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Both impart the experience of sitting with brilliant Cubans over a rum to debate the State of Cuban Intellectual Life.
Book Bag: Great Books About Cuba|Julia Cooke|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The black sticks resembling lollipops are said to be compounds of rum, bullocks' blood and tobacco lees.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.
He was unhurt, but he moved with shuffling steps, much like a tavern-loafer soggy from rum.
A Virginia Scout|Hugh Pendexter
Ive seen a lot of booze-fighters, and helped tuck some of them underground, but I never saw any rum hound just like this guy.
The Woman Gives|Owen Johnson
The men were in a panic and the captain sought courage in rum, and was soon too drunk to handle his ship.
Stories of Our Naval Heroes|Various
Half a gill of rum to two of water was served out once a day to each man.
The British Expedition to the Crimea|William Howard Russell

British Dictionary definitions for rum (1 of 3)

rum¹

/ (rʌm) /

noun

spirit made from sugar cane, either coloured brownish-red by the addition of caramel or by maturation in oak containers, or left white

Word Origin for rum

C17: perhaps shortened from C16 rumbullion, of uncertain origin

British Dictionary definitions for rum (2 of 3)

rum²

/ (rʌm) /

adjective rummer or rummest

British slang strange; peculiar; odd

Derived forms of rum

rumly, adverbrumness, noun

Word Origin for rum

C19: perhaps from Romany rom man

British Dictionary definitions for rum (3 of 3)

rum³

/ (rʌm) /

noun

short for rummy 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

rum

Origin of rum

OTHER WORDS FROM rum

Words nearby rum

Other definitions for rum (2 of 5)

Origin of rum

Other definitions for rum (3 of 5)

Origin of rum

Other definitions for rum (4 of 5)

Other definitions for rum (5 of 5)

Words related to rum

How to use rum in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for rum (1 of 3)

Word Origin for rum

British Dictionary definitions for rum (2 of 3)

Derived forms of rum

Word Origin for rum

British Dictionary definitions for rum (3 of 3)