noun
Uncommon
rum
ruhm
Rum (noun) means a strong alcoholic spirit distilled from sugarcane juice or molasses. Example: “They mixed rum with pineapple juice for the cocktail.”
noun
1
A strong alcoholic spirit distilled from sugarcane juice or molasses.
"The Royal Navy used to issue a rum ration to sailors."
"They mixed rum with pineapple juice for the cocktail."
"The old sailor poured a small glass of rum and sat by the fire."
"She added a splash of rum to the cake mixture."
"Jake tossed down three rums."
"Bundaberg is one of my favourite rums."
adj
1
Odd or peculiar (informal, chiefly British).
"It was a rum business, the way he suddenly disappeared."
"That's a rum thing to say at a funeral, isn't it?"
"My grandfather described the stranger's behaviour as rather rum."
How to use rum
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost commonly the sugarcane-based spirit; the "odd/strange" sense is old-fashioned British slang, rarely used now.
Common pairings
rum and coke
dark rum
spiced rum
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Word forms
- Plural
- rums
- Comparative
- rummer
- Superlative
- rummest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They mixed _____ with pineapple juice for the cocktail.
Etymology
First recorded around the mid-1600s; the exact origin is debated, with theories tracing it to Caribbean slang words like "rumbullion."
Class of 1600
rum joined the language around 1600.
See the full Class of 1600 →
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for rum
See all rhymes for rum →Frequently asked questions
What does “rum” mean?
The word “rum” means a strong alcoholic spirit distilled from sugarcane juice or molasses. In plain terms, most commonly the sugarcane-based spirit; the "odd/strange" sense is old-fashioned British slang, rarely used now.
How do you pronounce “rum”?
“Rum” is pronounced ruhm (/ɹʌm/ in IPA).
How do you use “rum” in a sentence?
Here is “rum” used in a sentence: “They mixed rum with pineapple juice for the cocktail.”
What is another word for “rum”?
Words with a similar meaning to “rum” include rumbullion, rumbustion, kill-devil, Nelson's blood, strange fish and deviant.
What part of speech is “rum”?
Depending on how it is used, “rum” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “rum” come from?
The word “rum” dates back to around 1600. First recorded around the mid-1600s; the exact origin is debated, with theories tracing it to Caribbean slang words like "rumbullion.".
Is “rum” a common word?
“Rum” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “rum” have?
“Rum” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a strong alcoholic spirit distilled from sugarcane juice or molasses.
What is the difference between rum as a drink and rum as an adjective?
As a noun, rum refers to a strong alcoholic spirit distilled from sugarcane juice or molasses. As an adjective, rum is an informal British word meaning odd or peculiar, and the two uses are unrelated in meaning despite sharing the same spelling.
Is calling something 'rum' still used in modern British English?
The adjective use of rum, meaning odd or peculiar, is chiefly British and somewhat old-fashioned, so it is heard more in older or informal speech than in everyday modern conversation. Phrases like 'a rum business' or 'a rum affair' still appear in British writing with a slightly dated, colloquial tone.
What is rum typically made from?
Rum is distilled from sugarcane juice or molasses, which are byproducts of sugar production. This distinguishes it from spirits like whiskey or vodka, which are distilled from grains or potatoes rather than sugarcane.
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