gram

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈgram 

: any of several leguminous plants (such as a chickpea) grown especially for their seed

also : their seeds

gram

2 of 5

noun (2)

ˈgram 

1

: a metric unit of mass equal to ¹/₁₀₀₀ kilogram and nearly equal to the mass of one cubic centimeter of water at its maximum density see Metric System Table

2

: the weight of a gram under the acceleration of gravity

gram

3 of 5

noun (3)

: grandmother

gram

4 of 5

abbreviation

grammar; grammatical

-gram

5 of 5

noun combining form

: drawing : writing : record

chronogram

telegram

Examples of gram in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Each liter of product contained more than 10 grams of lithium. —Aaron Gettinger, arkansasonline.com, 21 Nov. 2023

Some kinds of manuka honey have 17 grams of carbs in just one teaspoon, which includes 16 grams of sugar.8 Additionally, people who are allergic to bees should use manuka honey with caution.9 Allergic reactions to honey are uncommon but possible. —Anthea Levi, Health, 20 Nov. 2023

Bottle weight: 475 grams (Light). Distributed locally by Breakthru Beverage. —Dave McIntyre, Washington Post, 16 Nov. 2023

Crumble Smith said the recommendation is 1.6 to 2.2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day for muscle building. —Alyssa Hui, Verywell Health, 16 Nov. 2023

Take about two-thirds of the dough (300 grams) and press into an even layer against the bottom of the plate and up the sides to form a ⅓-inch-thick crust along the sides. —Genevieve Ko, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Nov. 2023

In a study published last year, researchers in the United States grew a flowering weed called Arabidopsis thaliana in 12 thimble-sized containers, each bearing a gram of actual moon soil collected during NASA missions more than a half century ago. —Fox News, 9 Nov. 2023

The value of a calorie is equal to the energy required to raise 1 gram of water by 1 degree Celsius. —Rhett Allain, WIRED, 31 Oct. 2023

Painstakingly hand-decorated and hand-assembled, the model comprises some 832 components, with the tourbillons accounting for a total of 104 components yet weighing a scant 1.15 grams. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

obsolete Portuguese (now spelled grão), grain, from Latin granum

Noun (2)

French gramme, from Late Latin gramma, a small weight, from Greek grammat-, gramma letter, writing, a small weight, from graphein to write — more at carve

Noun (3)

by shortening & alteration

Noun combining form

Latin -gramma, from Greek, from gramma

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1702, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1810, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

1923, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing gram

• centimeter-gram-second
• gram molecular weight
• gram calorie
• gram-atomic weight
• gram-variable
• gram-negative
• gram equivalent
• gram-positive

• centimeter-gram-second
• gram molecular weight
• gram calorie
• gram-atomic weight
• gram-variable
• gram-negative
• gram equivalent
• gram-positive

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Kids Definition

gram

1 of 2 noun

ˈgram

1

: a metric unit of mass equal to ¹⁄₁₀₀₀ kilogram and nearly equal to the mass of one cubic centimeter of water at its maximum density see metric system

2

: the weight of a gram of mass

-gram

2 of 2 noun combining form

ˌgram

: drawing : writing : record

telegram

Etymology

Noun combining form

from Latin -gramma "piece of writing, record," derived from Greek gramma "letter," derived from graphein "to write" — related to graffito, grammar, -graph

Medical Definition

gram

noun

variants or chiefly British gramme

ˈgram 

1

: a metric unit of mass equal to ¹/₁₀₀₀ kilogram and nearly equal to the mass of one cubic centimeter of water at its maximum density

—abbreviation g

2

: the weight of a gram under standard gravity