From Middle English crammen, from Old English crammian (“to cram; stuff”), from Proto-West Germanic *krammōn, from Proto-Germanic *krammōną, a secondary verb derived from *krimmaną (“to stuff”), from Proto-Indo-European *ger- (“to assemble; collect; gather”). Compare Old English crimman (“to cram; stuff; insert; press; bruise”), Icelandic kremja (“to squeeze; crush; bruise”).
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) The act of cramming (forcing or stuffing something).
But Billy Bunter was only the first in the field. As the news spread, there was a crowd, not to call it a cram, in No. 7 Study: […] 1952, Frank Richards, Billy Bunter and the Blue Mauritius:
(countable, dated, slang, uncountable) Information hastily memorized.
a cram from an examination
(countable, uncountable) A warp having more than two threads passing through each dent or split of the reed.
(British, countable, dated, slang, uncountable) A lie; a falsehood.
It is awful, an old un like that telling such crams as she do. 1864, Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, Uncle Silas:
Shut up, and don't tell crams. 1894, Talbot Baines Reed, Tom, Dick, and Harry, page 107:
(uncountable) A mathematical board game in which players take turns placing dominoes horizontally or vertically until no more can be placed, the loser being the player who cannot continue.
(countable, uncountable) A small friendship book with limited space for people to enter their information.
Regular friendship books had a variety of variations, such as slams, crams, and decos. 2017, Mark Duffett, Fan Identities and Practices in Context: Dedicated to Music, page 194:
Pen pals also make and pass around friendship books, slams and crams. In recent years, pen pal correspondence with prison inmates has gained acceptance on the Internet. 2019, Manjit Bal, Lovingly Yours - Penpals:
fi ahtaminen (the act of cramming) · fr remplissage (the act of cramming) · hu teletömés (the act of cramming) · fr bourrage (the act of cramming) · hu telezsúfolás (the act of cramming) · hu megtömés (the act of cramming) · pt decoreba (information hastily memorized; as, a cram from an examination) · ru зубрёжка (information hastily memorized; as, a cram from an examination) · fi päntätä (the act of cramming) · bg зубрене (information hastily memorized; as, a cram from an examination) · hi रटना (the act of cramming) · hu magolás (information hastily memorized; as, a cram from an examination) · ru да́вка (the act of cramming) · fi survominen (the act of cramming) · bg блъсканица (the act of cramming) · fi sullominen (the act of cramming) · gl apiñamento (the act of cramming) · fi tunkeminen (the act of cramming) · pt entupimento (the act of cramming) · hu kitömés (the act of cramming) · ru толкотня́ (the act of cramming) · hu tömés (the act of cramming) · bg блъскане (the act of cramming)
From Middle English crammen, from Old English crammian (“to cram; stuff”), from Proto-West Germanic *krammōn, from Proto-Germanic *krammōną, a secondary verb derived from *krimmaną (“to stuff”), from Proto-Indo-European *ger- (“to assemble; collect; gather”). Compare Old English crimman (“to cram; stuff; insert; press; bruise”), Icelandic kremja (“to squeeze; crush; bruise”).
Meanings
(transitive) To press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another; to stuff; to fill to superfluity.
to cram fruit into a basket; to cram a room with people
The storm has passed when I arrive at Southampton Central, but more fun is to come. The station platforms and waiting rooms are crammed with people, many toting enormous amounts of baggage as they have just come off a cruise liner. 2022 November 16, Paul Bigland, “From rural branches to high-speed arteries”, in RAIL, number 970, page 55:
Are we to blame Livingstone for Tube overcrowding? In part, yes, but as Sir John Eliot had observed in 1955, while Chairman of the London Transport Executive: 'They're not crammed in. They cram themselves in.' 2012, Andrew Martin, Underground Overground: A passenger's history of the Tube, Profile Books, →ISBN, page 244:
But you still need to check in with the Arch Linux community now and then to make sure that none of their crazy shit is going to be crammed down your throat the next update.
(transitive) To fill with food to satiety; to stuff.
The boy crammed himself with cake
(transitive) To put hastily through an extensive course of memorizing or study, as in preparation for an examination.
A pupil is crammed by his tutor.
(intransitive) To study hard; to swot.
(intransitive) To eat greedily, and to satiety; to stuff oneself.
(British, dated, intransitive, slang) To lie; to intentionally not tell the truth.
(British, dated, slang, transitive) To make (a person) believe false or exaggerated tales.
fr fourrer (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · es chapar (to put hastily through an extensive course of memorizing or study) · es atocuñar (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · de vollstopfen (to fill with food to satiety; to stuff) · fi päntätä (to put hastily through an extensive course of memorizing or study) · hu töm (to fill with food to satiety; to stuff) · ru набива́ть (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · ru вы́зубрить (to put hastily through an extensive course of memorizing or study) · es amarrar (to put hastily through an extensive course of memorizing or study) · ca embotir (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · fi survoa (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · es atucuñar (to fill with food to satiety; to stuff) · hu bemagoltat (to put hastily through an extensive course of memorizing or study) · sv stormläsa (to put hastily through an extensive course of memorizing or study) · ro înghesui (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · fr bourrer (to fill with food to satiety; to stuff) · th กวดวิชา (to put hastily through an extensive course of memorizing or study) · no stappe (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · es machetear (to put hastily through an extensive course of memorizing or study) · hu összecsap (to make crude preparation for a special occasion) · ru запихну́ть (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · hu megtöm (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · bg преяждам (to fill with food to satiety; to stuff) · io instruktegar (to put hastily through an extensive course of memorizing or study) · fr truffer (to fill with food to satiety; to stuff) · ru зубри́ть (to put hastily through an extensive course of memorizing or study) · ru наби́ть (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · fi ahmia (to eat greedily, and to satiety; to stuff) · fr bachoter (to make crude preparation for a special occasion) · hu zsúfol (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · nl stampen (to put hastily through an extensive course of memorizing or study) · hu bifláz (to put hastily through an extensive course of memorizing or study) · rup ndes (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · fr bachoter (to put hastily through an extensive course of memorizing or study) · la stīpō (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · pt empanturrar (to fill with food to satiety; to stuff) · fr foutre (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · fr bâfrer (to eat greedily, and to satiety; to stuff) · fi ahtaa (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · tr tıkınmak (to eat greedily, and to satiety; to stuff) · pt entupir (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · ru отка́рмливать (to fill with food to satiety; to stuff) · fr bourrer (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · gl chapar (to put hastily through an extensive course of memorizing or study) · es tragar (to put hastily through an extensive course of memorizing or study) · hu fejébe ver (to put hastily through an extensive course of memorizing or study) · hu belezsúfol (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · ro îndesa (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · gl embutir (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · es atocuñar (to fill with food to satiety; to stuff) · es atiborrar (to fill with food to satiety; to stuff) · es embutir (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · mi hāpuku (to eat greedily, and to satiety; to stuff) · fr ficher (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · hu tömi magát (to eat greedily, and to satiety; to stuff) · mi hāpuku (to fill with food to satiety; to stuff) · fr se gaver (to eat greedily, and to satiety; to stuff) · hu zabál (to eat greedily, and to satiety; to stuff) · tr tıkmak (to eat greedily, and to satiety; to stuff) · bg натъпквам се (to fill with food to satiety; to stuff) · bg наблъсквам (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · fr bâcler (to make crude preparation for a special occasion) · fi sulloa (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · tr hatmetmek (to put hastily through an extensive course of memorizing or study) · ta திணி (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · ru наеда́ться (to fill with food to satiety; to stuff) · tr tıkmak (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · ro toca (to put hastily through an extensive course of memorizing or study) · tr ineklemek (to put hastily through an extensive course of memorizing or study) · ru вти́скивать (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · ko 쑤셔 넣다 (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · fr gaver (to fill with food to satiety; to stuff) · hu fal (to eat greedily, and to satiety; to stuff) · ota طیقمق (to fill with food to satiety; to stuff) · ota طیقمق (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · hu teletöm (to fill with food to satiety; to stuff) · mi puru (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · pt entupir-se (to eat greedily, and to satiety; to stuff) · hu teletölt (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · hu telezsúfol (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · bg назубрям (to put hastily through an extensive course of memorizing or study) · mi whakapuru (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · fr se remplir (to eat greedily, and to satiety; to stuff) · my သိပ် (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · cmn 填滿 /填满 (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · hu degeszre eszi magát (to eat greedily, and to satiety; to stuff) · sv hårdplugga (to put hastily through an extensive course of memorizing or study) · es atracar (to fill with food to satiety; to stuff) · es atiborrar (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · fi tunkea (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · es atestar (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · ru нае́сться (to fill with food to satiety; to stuff) · fr farcir (to fill with food to satiety; to stuff) · de vollpacken (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · fi täyttää (to fill with food to satiety; to stuff) · hu beletöm (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · es chancar (to put hastily through an extensive course of memorizing or study) · ru сожра́ть (to eat greedily, and to satiety; to stuff) · tr tıkmak (to fill with food to satiety; to stuff) · sv sprängläsa (to put hastily through an extensive course of memorizing or study) · sv trycka (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · fr se bourrer (to eat greedily, and to satiety; to stuff) · es chapar (to put hastily through an extensive course of memorizing or study) · hu töm (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · ca empatxar-se (to fill with food to satiety; to stuff) · ja 詰め込む (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · nl volproppen (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · it stivare (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · hu teletöm (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · ru вти́снуть (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · sv stoppa (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · no pugge (to put hastily through an extensive course of memorizing or study) · hu telerak (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · es empollar (to put hastily through an extensive course of memorizing or study) · bg натъпквам се (to eat greedily, and to satiety; to stuff) · ko 벼락치기를 하다 (to make crude preparation for a special occasion) · de pauken (to put hastily through an extensive course of memorizing or study) · es atestar (to fill with food to satiety; to stuff) · es atacuñarse (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · ru запи́хивать (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · tr hafızlamak (to put hastily through an extensive course of memorizing or study) · hu megtöm (to fill with food to satiety; to stuff) · ru откорми́ть (to fill with food to satiety; to stuff) · de büffeln (to put hastily through an extensive course of memorizing or study) · vi nhét (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · bg натъпквам (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · de mästen (to fill with food to satiety; to stuff) · es atacuñarse (to fill with food to satiety; to stuff) · de stopfen (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · ru пожира́ть (to eat greedily, and to satiety; to stuff) · fr emmancher (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another) · hu magoltat (to put hastily through an extensive course of memorizing or study) · vi nhồi (to press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in thrusting one thing into another)