This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
rum
1[ ruhm ]
/ rʌm /
Save This Word!
This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
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…
Origin of rum
1First recorded in 1645–55; perhaps short for obsolete rumbullion, rumbustion, of obscure origin
OTHER WORDS FROM rum
rumless, adjectiveWords 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
2First recorded in 1750–60; earlier rome, room “great,” of uncertain origin; perhaps from Romani; see Rom
Other definitions for rum (3 of 5)
Origin of rum
3An 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)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use rum in a sentence
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, nounWord Origin for rum
C19: perhaps from Romany rom man
British Dictionary definitions for rum (3 of 3)
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