gram

1 of 5

noun (1)

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

gram

2 of 5

noun (2)

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)

gram

4 of 5

abbreviation

-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 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gram.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of gram was in 1702

Dictionary Entries Near gram

Cite this Entry

“Gram.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gram. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.

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
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

More from Merriam-Webster on gram

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