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

Containing egg whites, tomato slices, spinach, aged white cheddar cheese and avocado, the sandwich clocks in at 410 calories and 21 grams of protein, according to Consumer Reports. — Sadie Chafe, FOXNews.com, 1 Nov. 2026

Its eight stones, weighing just under 800 grams in total, were bought by a private collector, who sent a piece to the University of New Mexico for classification. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 30 Oct. 2026

The indictment also charges Gomez with three counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 28 grams or more of cocaine base, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 40 years on each count. — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 30 Oct. 2026

Varèse’s piece is named for the density of platinum (in approximate grams per cubic centimetre). — Shauna Lyon, New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2026

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)

1797, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

1923, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing gram

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

Rhymes for gram

• am
• bam
• cham
• clam
• damme
• damn
• abraham
• anagram
• cablegram
• cofferdam
• dendrogram
• diagram

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