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ram
ram.
1. A strengthened or armoured projection from a warship's bow used to disable or sink an enemy ship by ramming it. The rowed war galleys of the Mediterranean were fitted with a sharp spike in their bows for this purpose. The ram as a naval weapon disappeared during the age of sail but made its reappearance when steam propulsion was adopted by the world's navies. The best-known case of the ram being used successfully was when the Austrian ironclad Ferdinand Maximilian rammed and sank the Italian battleship Re d'Italia at the battle of Lissa in 1866. This success, allied to certain disasters in peacetime manoeuvres when ships were sunk after being accidentally rammed—for example, the Vanguard and Iron Duke in 1875 and the Victoria and Camperdown in 1893—prolonged the life of the ram far beyond its use as a practicable weapon in warfare at sea, and most ironclads built up to the beginning of the 20th century were fitted with ram bows. The word was also used to describe a warship whose offensive power was centred mainly on its ram, a type extensively built by both sides in the American Civil War of 1861–5. During the 1860s both the French and British navies built warships specifically for ramming, and the British continued to build such ships until 1884. See also bulbous bow. 2. As a verb, an operation of war by which an attempt to sink an opponent by ramming it is made. During both world wars a number of warships, particularly submarines, were sunk by being rammed. The word generally indicates a conscious act to sink an enemy, and although occasionally used for the purpose, does not properly cover the sinking of a vessel through an accidental collision. |
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"ram." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "ram." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-ram.html "ram." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-ram.html |
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RAM
RAM Acronym for random-access memory.
1. The main memory of a computer. It is fabricated using semiconductor technology and allows the computer user to access (read from) or alter (write to) individual storage locations within the device (see def. 2). 2. A semiconductor memory device in which the basic element consists of a single cell that is capable of storing one bit of information. Large-capacity memories are formed as two-dimensional arrays of these cells. An individual cell is identified uniquely by row and column addresses, which are derived by decoding a user-supplied address word. A typical organization is shown in the diagram. Each cell in a RAM is thus independent of all other cells in the array and can be accessed in any order and in the same amount of time, hence the term random access; data can be both read from and written to the cells in the array. RAM is usually volatile memory and is used for temporary storage of data or programs. RAM devices can be classified as static or dynamic. Static RAM (SRAM) is fabricated from either bipolar or MOS components (see bipolar transistor, MOSFET); each cell is formed by an electronic latch whose contents remain fixed until written to or until the power is removed. Dynamic RAM (DRAM) cells, which comprise MOS devices, utilize the charge stored on a capacitance as a temporary store (see bucket); due to leakage currents, the cell contents must be refreshed at regular intervals. The design of RAM chips is evolving and new standards arise frequently. The trend is for RAM to be sold in modules rather than individual chips. See DIMM. |
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JOHN DAINTITH. "RAM." A Dictionary of Computing. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN DAINTITH. "RAM." A Dictionary of Computing. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O11-RAM.html JOHN DAINTITH. "RAM." A Dictionary of Computing. 2004. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O11-RAM.html |
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ram
ram / ram/ • n. 1. an uncastrated male sheep. ∎ (the Ram) the zodiacal sign or constellation Aries. 2. short for battering ram. ∎ the falling weight of a pile-driving machine. ∎ hist. a beak or other projecting part of the bow of a warship, for piercing the hulls of other ships. ∎ hist. a warship with such a bow. 3. a hydraulic water-raising or lifting machine. ∎ the piston of a hydraulic press. ∎ the plunger of a force pump. • v. (rammed , ram·ming ) [tr.] roughly force (something) into place: he rammed his stick into the ground. ∎ (of a vehicle or vessel) be driven violently into (something, typically another vehicle or vessel) in an attempt to stop or damage it: their boat was rammed by a Japanese warship. ∎ [intr.] crash violently against something: the stolen car rammed into the front of the house. ∎ [tr.] [often as adj.] (rammed) beat (earth or the ground) with a heavy implement to make it hard and firm: portions of the Great Wall of China are made of rammed earth. ∎ (ram through) [tr.] force (something) to be accepted: Sunday's referendum to ram through a new constitution. PHRASES: ram something down someone's throat see throat. ram something home see home.DERIVATIVES: ram·mer n. |
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"ram." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "ram." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-ram005.html "ram." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-ram005.html |
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ram
ram. Images of the male sheep appear frequently in ancient Celtic art from as early as La Tène times (4th cent. BC). The reference implied by the ram, especially the ram's head, is not always clear. It may have been merely decorative, or it may have carried implications of fertility, as the ram (along with the goat) had been linked to Mercury in classical imagery. Romano-Celtic representations of rams with Mercury are found widely in what is now France and Great Britain. Images of rams with northern British war-gods imply sexual energy and aggression. Ram-horned heads appear in the worship of Camulos. Ram-horned serpents, combining perhaps fertility and sexual aggression with regeneration, appear frequently and widely. In a later Fenian allegory, Fionn sees a ram representing the whole world. See also POOKA. Ir. reithe; ScG reithe, rùd; Manx rea; W maharen, hwrdd; Corn. horth; Bret. tourz.
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JAMES MacKILLOP. "ram." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JAMES MacKILLOP. "ram." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O70-ram.html JAMES MacKILLOP. "ram." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O70-ram.html |
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RAM
RAM (random access memory) Integrated circuits (IC) (chips) that act as a temporary store for computer program and data (information). To run a program on a computer, the program is first transferred from a magnetic disk, or other storage device, to RAM. RAM also holds documents produced when the program is used. Another part of RAM stores the images to be displayed on the screen. The contents of RAM are lost when the computer is switched off.
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"RAM." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "RAM." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-RAM.html "RAM." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-RAM.html |
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ram
ram 1 n.
1. a beak or other projecting part of the bow of a warship, for piercing the hulls of other ships. 2. a warship with such a bow. v. rammed, ramming 1. (of a vehicle or vessel) be driven violently into (something, typically another vehicle or vessel) in an attempt to stop or damage it: their boat was rammed by a Japanese warship. 2. crash violently against something: the stolen car rammed into the front of the house. rammer n. |
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"ram." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "ram." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-ram.html "ram." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-ram.html |
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ram
ram.
1. Ram's head or skull on a Classical frieze: a variation on the more usual aegicrane or bucranium. 2. Criosphinx. 3. Reinforced prow or beak (rostrum) of an Antique warship for ramming and holing an enemy ship, featured on the columna rostrata. 4. To beat down earth, clay, etc., with a heavy implement, to make it hard and firm. See rammed. |
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JAMES STEVENS CURL. "ram." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JAMES STEVENS CURL. "ram." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O1-ram.html JAMES STEVENS CURL. "ram." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O1-ram.html |
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ram
ram male sheep; battering-ram OE.; weight of a pile-driving machine XV. OE. ram(m), corr. to (M)LG., (M)Du., OHG ram ram (G. ramme rammer), perh. rel. to ON. ram(m)r strong.
Hence vb. XIV, whence rammer XV. |
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T. F. HOAD. "ram." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "ram." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-ram.html T. F. HOAD. "ram." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-ram.html |
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ram
ram often taken as a type of virility; the Ram is the name of the zodiacal sign or the constellation Aries. The word is recorded from Old English, and is of Germanic origin.
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "ram." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "ram." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-ram.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "ram." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-ram.html |
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RAM
RAM / ram/ • abbr. ∎ Comput. random-access memory. ∎ (in the UK) Royal Academy of Music. |
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Cite this article
"RAM." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "RAM." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-ram.html "RAM." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-ram.html |
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Ram
Ram in the Bible. 1 Ancestor of David. In the New Testament he is called Aram. 2 Son of Jerahmeel. 3 Ancestor of Elihu. |
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"Ram." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Ram." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Ram1.html "Ram." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Ram1.html |
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Ram
Ram ♂ North Indian variant of Rama.
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PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Ram." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Ram." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Ram.html PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Ram." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Ram.html |
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ram
ram •am, Amsterdam, Assam, Bram, cam, cham, cheongsam, clam, cram, dam, damn, drachm, dram, exam, femme, flam, gam, glam, gram, ham, jam, jamb, lam, lamb, mam, mesdames, Omar Khayyám, Pam, pram, pro-am, ram, Sam, scam, scram, sham, Siam, slam, Spam, swam, tam, tram, Vietnam, wham, yam
•in memoriam • ad nauseam
•iamb, Priam
•grandam • Edam • goddam
•quondam • Potsdam • cofferdam
•Rotterdam • Oxfam • Birmingham
•Abraham • logjam • CAD-CAM
•minicam • Nicam
•Eelam, Elam
•flimflam • oriflamme • Suriname
•ad personam • diazepam • tangram
•ashram • telegram • milligram
•epigram • centigram • dithyramb
•program, programme
•cardiogram • radiogram • echogram
•mammogram
•aerogramme (US aerogram)
•microgram • dirham
•electrocardiogram • ideogram
•heliogram • diaphragm • diagram
•parallelogram • kilogram • hologram
•encephalogram • anagram
•monogram • sonogram • kissogram
•pentagram • cryptogram • photogram
•tam-tam • wigwam • whim-wham
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"ram." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "ram." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-ram.html "ram." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-ram.html |
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