Definition

1. Noun:

   • An uncastrated adult male sheep: A ram is a male sheep that has not been neutered.
   • A tool for driving or forcing something by impact: A ram is a heavy device or part of a machine used to strike, drive, or crush something with force.
   • (Capitalized: the Ram) The first sign of the zodiac (Aries): In astrology, the Ram is the constellation and zodiac sign which the sun enters around March 21.
   • (Capitalized: RAM) Random Access Memory: In computing, RAM is the common, volatile memory a computer uses to run programs and process data while it is on.

2. Verb:

   • To strike or drive against something with great force: To ram means to hit or push something very hard, often with a forward motion.
   • To force something into a place or position: To ram means to push or stuff something into a space tightly or forcefully.
   • To crowd or pack tightly: To ram can mean to fill a space completely.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The farmer separated the ram from the ewes.
  • They used a hydraulic ram to drive the posts into the ground.
  • Her zodiac sign is the Ram.
  • My computer needs more RAM to run this software smoothly.

• Verb:

  • The ship rammed into the dock during the storm.
  • He rammed the key into the lock.
  • Fans rammed the stadium to capacity for the final game.

Advanced Usage

• "To ram something home": To emphasize a point or idea very forcefully to ensure it is understood.

  • The teacher used several examples to ram the lesson home.

• "To ram something down someone's throat" (Idiomatic): To force an idea, opinion, or belief on someone in an aggressive, unwelcome way.

  • He's always trying to ram his political views down everyone's throat.

Variants and Related Words

• Battering ram (n): A historical siege weapon consisting of a large, heavy log used to break down gates or walls.
• Ramjet (n): A type of jet engine that uses the engine's forward motion to compress incoming air.
• RAM disk (n): A virtual drive created using a portion of a computer's RAM to mimic a very fast hard disk.

Synonyms

• Noun (sheep): Buck (for goats), tup (British term).
• Verb (strike): Crash, smash, slam, pound.
• Verb (force): Stuff, cram, jam, wedge.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Ram into: To crash violently into something.

  • The car lost control and rammed into the barrier.

• Ram through: To force something (like a law or plan) to be accepted quickly and often against opposition.

  • The government rammed the controversial bill through parliament.

Related Idioms

• Like a battering ram: With great, relentless, and destructive force.
  • The criticism hit him like a battering ram.

Noun

1. uncastrated adult male sheep
   • a British term is `tup'
2. a tool for driving or forcing something by impact
3. the first sign of the zodiac which the sun enters at the vernal equinox; the sun is in this sign from about March 21 to April 19
4. (astrology) a person who is born while the sun is in Aries
5. the most common computer memory which can be used by programs to perform necessary tasks while the computer is on; an integrated circuit memory chip allows information to be stored or accessed in any order and all storage locations are equally accessible

Verb

1. crowd or pack to capacity
   • the theater was jampacked
2. undergo damage or destruction on impact
   • the plane crashed into the ocean
   • The car crashed into the lamp post
3. force into or from an action or state, either physically or metaphorically
   • She rammed her mind into focus
   • He drives me mad
4. strike or drive against with a heavy impact
   • ram the gate with a sledgehammer
   • pound on the door