jam
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gather tightly into a small space: One of the lifts was out of
order, so we all had to jam into the other one. | I can't jam
another thing into this bag. | The bus was so full that I was
jammed in and couldn't move. 2 [T] to fill with people, cars
etc, so that movement is difficult or impossible: The crowds
jammed the streets, and no cars could pass. 3 [T usually pass.] to
make so many telephone calls to a place at the same time
that (its telephone system) cannot work properly: The com-
pany's switchboard was jammed with com-
plaints. 4 [T+obj+adv/prep] to press hard and suddenly: She
jammed the top of the box down on my hand. | I jammed on
the brakes/jammed the brakes on. 5 [I(UP)] (especially of
moving parts, e.g. of machines) to get stuck: The door has
jammed and I can't open it. 6 [T] to broadcast noise on a
radio signal so that (the radio shows that should be on that
signal) cannot be heard: The Russians have been jamming
American broadcasts to Eastern Europe. 7 [I] infml to play in a
JAM SESSION
jam³ n 1 a mass of people or things pressed so close together
that movement is difficult or impossible: Their car was stuck
in a traffic jam for hours. 2 be in/get into a jam infml be
in/to get into a difficult situation
JAMA /dʒæm eɪ em 'eɪ/ trademark abbrev. for Journal of the
American Medical Association; a highly-respected US maga-
zine which provides reports on recent medical develop-
ments, new drugs and medical treatments etc → see also
LANCET, NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
Ja·mai·ca /dʒə'meɪkə/ an island in the Caribbean Sea which
is an independent state and a member of the British COM-
MONWEALTH. Population: 2,695,867 (2003). Capital: Kingston.
Many SLAVES were brought there from Africa from the 17th
to the 19th centuries to work on the sugar and banana farms.
Jamaica is now known as a beautiful place for tourists to visit,
and as the home of REGGAE music and the RASTAFARIAN
religion. —Jamaican n, adj
jamb /dʒæm/ n tech a side post of a door or window
jam·ba·la·ya /ˌdʒæmbə'laɪə/ n [U] a Cajun rice dish from
the South of the US, containing OKRA, chicken, and seafood
jam·bo·ree /ˌdʒæmbə'riː/ n 1 infml a big noisy happy
party 2 a large gathering of SCOUTS or GUIDES
James, Clive /dʒeɪmz, klaɪv/ (1939–) an Australian JOUR-
NALIST, writer, and PRESENTER who lives in the UK and often
appears on British television. He is known for his clever style
of humour.
James, Henry (1843–1916) a US writer of novels, who lived
for many years in Europe and is known especially for
writing about the effect that Europe had on Americans who
travelled there. His many books include Washington Square,
The Portrait of a Lady, and the GHOST story The Turn of the
Screw. —Jamesian adj: a Jamesian plot
James, Jes·se /'dʒesi/ (1847–82) a US criminal who became
famous for robbing banks and trains with his brother Frank.
He was shot and killed by one of the members of his own
GANG (=group of criminals). Some people considered Jesse
James to be a hero, and there are many films and stories based
on his life.
James, P.D. (1920–) a British writer of crime stories who
invented the character of Adam Dalgliesh, a policeman from
Scotland Yard. Many of her books have been filmed for
television, such as Death of an Expert Witness and An Unsuit-
able Job for a Woman. Her official title is Baroness James of
Holland Park.
James, Sid /sɪd/ (1913–76) a popular British actor and
COMEDIAN, known for his humorous parts in many CARRY ON
FILMS, as well as for appearing on television and radio in
Hancock's Half Hour with Tony HANCOCK
James I, King /ˌdʒeɪmz ðə 'fɜːrst|'fɜːrst/ (1566–1625) the
king of England from 1603 until his death. Before he
became king of England, he was already the king of Scotland
(as James VI), and in 1603 the two kingdoms were united
under one king. → see also KING JAMES BIBLE
James II, King /ˌdʒeɪmz ðə 'sekənd/ (1633–1704) the king of
England from 1685 until 1688, when he was forced to give
up his position because he had become a Catholic. In 1690
he tried to get back power from the new British king,
William III, but he was defeated at the Battle of the Boyne in
Ireland.
James·town /'dʒeɪmztaʊn/ a town in Virginia which was
the first town built by English people who went to live in
North America. It was established in 1607, and is a popular
place for tourists to visit.
'jam jar n a small glass container (=JAR) for JAM, sometimes
used to store other things instead: The children went fishing
with a net and a jam jar.
jam·mies /'dʒæmiz/ n [P] AmE infml PYJAMAS
jam·my /'dʒæmi/ adj BrE slang 1 easy: That was a really jammy
examination. 2 (used especially with taboo words) lucky,
especially in a way that makes other people annoyed: The
jammy bugger passed the exam without doing any work!
jam·packed adj [(with)] infml full, with many people or things
very close together; very CROWDED: The theatre was jam-
packed for the first night of the play.
'jam session n a JAZZ or ROCK performance in which the
musicians play together without practising together first
Jan the written abbreviation of January
Jane /dʒeɪn/ the main female character in the books and
films about TARZAN
Jane Doe n [S] AmE a name used in legal documents, court
cases etc for a woman whose real name is not known
Jane Eyre /ˌdʒeɪn 'eər/ (1847) a book by Charlotte BRONTË
about a young woman called Jane Eyre who becomes a
GOVERNESS and agrees to marry her employer, Mr Rochester,
not knowing that he already has a wife who is mentally ill
and kept locked in the ATTIC (=a room under the roof) of the
house. Jane Eyre is still a very popular book and has been
made into several films and plays.
Jan·et and John /ˌdʒænɪt ənd 'dʒɒn||-'dʒɑːn/ a boy and
girl who are the main characters in simple British books used
for teaching children to read, which were popular in the
1950s and 1960s. Most people, especially teachers, now think
that these books are boring, and that they only represent
white MIDDLE CLASS British people with a very traditional
way of life. In the US there are similar books called DICK AND
JANE.
jan·gle /'dʒæŋɡəl/ v 1 [I,T] to (cause to) make a sharp sound,
like metal striking against metal: The brass bells jangled on
the horse's collar. 2 [T] to excite unpleasantly; upset: his
jangled nerves
jan·is·sar·y /'dʒænɪsərɪl-serɪ/ also jan·i·za·ry /-zərɪl-zerɪ/
— n a member of a special group of soldiers in Turkey in
former times
jan·i·tor /'dʒænɪtər/ n 1 AmE and Scot E for CARETAKER 2 old-
fash a person who guards the main door of a large building →
compare PORTER¹
Jan·u·ar·y /'dʒænjuəri, -njurɪl-njueri/ written abbrev. Jan. n
[C,U] the first month of the year, between December and
February: in January Our new office is opening in January
2000. | last/next January I haven't heard from him since last
January. | on January 6th etc Rosie's party was on January
6th. | on (the) 6th January BrE The hunting season starts on
6th January. | January 6 AmE The date today is January 6.
CULTURAL NOTE
In the UK and northern US, when people
think of January, they think of the New Year and cold
weather.
Ja·nus /'dʒeɪnəs/ in Roman MYTHOLOGY, the god of gates
and doorways and of new beginnings. Janus is usually shown
in pictures with two faces, one of which looks back at the past
while the other looks forward towards the future. The word
'JANUARY' comes from his name.
Jap /dʒæp/ n taboo an offensive word for a Japanese person
ja·pan /dʒə'pæn/ v -nn- [T] to cover (wood or metal) with a
special paint giving a black shiny surface: a japaned box
Japan a country in East Asia consisting of four large islands,
HOKKAIDO, HONSHU, SHIKOKU, and KYUSHU, and many smaller
ones. Population: 127,214,499 (2003). Capital: Tokyo. The
main religions are SHINTO and BUDDHISM. Japan is an ancient
CIVILIZATION, but during the 1970s and 1980s it became a rich
country with advanced industries, known especially for mak-
ing cars and electronic goods. When people in the US and UK
think of Japan, they typically think of it as a place that
develops and produces advanced electronic equipment and
has trains that travel at high speeds. It is also known for its