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noun A2 Elementary Uncommon

tram

tram

Tram (noun) means a passenger vehicle that runs on tracks laid into a city street. Example: “We took the tram into the city centre.”

noun
1
A passenger vehicle that runs on tracks laid into a city street.
"We took the tram into the city centre."
"The tram stops right outside the museum."
verb
1
To travel by tram.
"They trammed across town to save on parking."

How to use tram

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA streetcar that runs on rails through city streets (called a "streetcar" or "trolley" in North America).

UK vs US

British English "tram" corresponds to American English "streetcar" or "trolley."

Common pairings
catch a tram tram stop tram line

Word forms

trammed past tense, trammed past tense, trams plural, trams plural, trams singular, trams singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

We took the _____ into the city centre.

Etymology

From Scots, probably from Low German traam ("shaft, beam"); the rail-vehicle sense grew out of "tramway," originally a log-covered road later used for horse-drawn coal carts called trams.

Origin: German

trolley streetcar tramway ropeway tramcar trolley car cable tramway aerial tramway

Related words

Rhymes for tram

See all rhymes for tram →

Frequently asked questions

What does “tram” mean?

The word “tram” means a passenger vehicle that runs on tracks laid into a city street. In plain terms, a streetcar that runs on rails through city streets (called a "streetcar" or "trolley" in North America).

How do you pronounce “tram”?

“Tram” is pronounced tram (/tɹæm/ in IPA).

How do you use “tram” in a sentence?

Here is “tram” used in a sentence: “We took the tram into the city centre.”

What part of speech is “tram”?

Depending on how it is used, “tram” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “tram” come from?

The word “tram” comes from German. From Scots, probably from Low German traam ("shaft, beam"); the rail-vehicle sense grew out of "tramway," originally a log-covered road later used for horse-drawn coal carts called trams.

Is “tram” a common word?

“Tram” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

How many meanings does “tram” have?

“Tram” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a passenger vehicle that runs on tracks laid into a city street.

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