What does "dram" mean?
A small unit of weight, variously:; Alternative form of drachm (“One sixteenth of an ounce avoirdupois (1.77 g; symbol: ℨ or ʒ)”).
Dram
/dɹæm/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A small unit of weight, variously:; Alternative form of drachm (“One sixteenth of an ounce avoirdupois (1.77 g; symbol: ℨ or ʒ)”).
- Grammar: dram is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: ace, atom, beverage, bit.
- Useful contrasts: bulk, full measure, large amount.
- Usage evidence: "Let's have a wee dram first," said uncle Fred, filling the glasses and putting them on the table, "and then we'll get going."
How to use "dram"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "dram" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "dram" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "dram" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "dram" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "dram" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "ace" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "dram", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A small unit of weight, variously:; Alternative form of drachm (“One sixteenth of an ounce avoirdupois (1.77 g; symbol: ℨ or ʒ)”). alt-of, alternative
- 2 The currency of Armenia, divided into 100 luma.
- 3 Initialism of dynamic random access memory. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable
- 4 the basic unit of money in Armenia wordnet
- 5 A small unit of weight, variously:; Alternative form of drachm (“One eighth of an ounce apothecary (3.89 g; symbol: ℨ or ʒ)”). alt-of, alternative
Show 7 more definitions
- 6 1/16 ounce or 1.771 grams wordnet
- 7 A small unit of weight, variously:; Synonym of dirhem: a former Turkish unit of weight (variously 1.5–3.5 g). uncommon
"Dram (49·5 grains), 100=chequi, 4=oka (2·8286 ℔); dram (49·5 grains), 180=rotl, 100=kintal or kantar (127·29 ℔)."
- 8 a unit of apothecary weight equal to an eighth of an ounce or to 60 grains wordnet
- 9 A small unit of weight, variously:; Synonym of drachma: a former Greek unit of weight (about 4.3 g). obsolete
- 10 Any similarly minute quantity, (now particularly) a small amount of strong alcohol or poison. broadly
"a dram of brandy"
- 11 A cart formerly used to haul coal in coal mines. historical
"The rolling stock, consisting entirely of four-wheel open trucks, or drams, was broken up at Bonvilles Court Colliery."
- 12 Synonym of drachma: a Greek silver coin weighing one drachma; other similar coins. obsolete
"They gave after their ability unto the treasure of the work threescore and one thousand drams [i.e., the Persian daric] of gold, and five thousand pound of silver […]"
Verb
- 1 To drink drams. dated, intransitive
"What I contend against is, this dramming, dramming, dramming, at all hours of the day. There are some men who take a glass at eleven o'clock in the forenoon, and at four in the afternoon."
- 2 To ply with drams of drink. dated, transitive
"The parents[…]are getting ready their daughter for sale[…]praying her, and imploring her, and dramming her, and coaxing her."
Antonyms
Example
""Let's have a wee dram first," said uncle Fred, filling the glasses and putting them on the table, "and then we'll get going.""
Common questions
What is a synonym for "dram"?
Common synonyms include: ace, atom, beverage, bit, bumper, carat.
How do you use "dram" in a sentence?
"Let's have a wee dram first," said uncle Fred, filling the glasses and putting them on the table, "and then we'll get going."
How do you pronounce "dram"?
Pronounced /dɹæm/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English dragme, dramme, from Old French dragme, drame, from Late Latin dragma, from Latin drachma, from Ancient Greek δραχμή (drakhmḗ, “unit of weight; a handful”). Doublet of drachma, diram, dirham, dirhem, and adarme.
Etymology 2
From Armenian դրամ (dram), from Middle Persian 𐭦𐭥𐭦𐭭 (zʿzn /drahm/), from Ancient Greek δραχμή (drakhmḗ, “unit of weight, a handful”), from δράσσομαι (drássomai, “I hold, seize”).