tram
tram Lexical Profile
tram Game Scores & Validity
• noun
British A passenger vehicle powered by electricity conveyed by overhead cables, running on rails laid in a public road.
"We decided to take the tram from the city center to the coastal suburbs."
North American An aerial cable car or suspended cabin used to transport passengers up a mountain.
"The ski resort features a scenic aerial tram that ferries visitors directly to the summit."
A four-wheeled open wagon or car used to carry coal, ore, or other heavy materials in a mine.
"The miners pushed a heavy tram loaded with freshly extracted coal down the narrow tunnel."
• verb
British To travel by tram.
"They trammed across the city to avoid the heavy rush-hour traffic on the roads."
To convey or transport goods, especially coal or ore, in a tram or cart.
"The laborers spent the entire shift tramming ore out of the deep shaft."
Word Nuance & Usage
The term 'tram' is primarily used in British, Australian, and European English; the most common North American equivalents are 'streetcar' or 'trolley'.
• Rhymes for tram
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Late Middle English (originally denoting the shaft of a barrow or cart), probably from Middle Low German and Middle Dutch 'trame' meaning 'beam'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.