ENGLISH
REFERENCE

gram

n. · v.
US //ˈɡɹæm// UK //ɡɹˈæm// gram
  1. 1 unit of weight (n.)
    A2 Elementary Science

    a metric unit of weight. There are 1,000 grams in one kilogram.

    a metric unit of mass equal to one-thousandth of a kilogram.

    Example

    The recipe says you need 200 grams of sugar for the cake.

    Example

    The laboratory scale is sensitive enough to measure a fraction of a gram, ensuring the chemical composition remains precise.

    Usage

    Often abbreviated as 'g' in recipes and scientific contexts.
    • g
  2. 2 Instagram (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Informal Slang Computing

    a short, informal name for the social media app Instagram.

    a colloquial clipping of the proper noun Instagram, referring to the platform or a specific post on it.

    Example

    I saw the photos of your holiday on the gram yesterday.

    Example

    She spent the entire afternoon editing her travel photos just to ensure they were perfect for the gram.

    Usage

    Usually used with the definite article 'the'.
    • insta
    • IG
  3. 3 grandmother (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Informal

    a casual and sweet name for your grandmother.

    a familiar, colloquial term of address or reference for a grandmother.

    Example

    We are going to visit my gram this weekend for her birthday.

    Example

    My gram still insists on baking fresh bread every Sunday morning, despite her age and the effort it requires.
  4. 4 to post on Instagram (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal Slang Computing

    to post a photo or video on Instagram.

    to upload content to the Instagram platform; used as a functional shift from the noun.

    Example

    Wait, don't eat yet—I need to gram this beautiful meal first.

    Example

    The influencers were busy gramming every detail of the launch party to maintain their engagement rates.
  5. 5 chickpea or pulse (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Cooking

    a type of seed from a plant that you can eat, like a chickpea.

    any of several leguminous plants grown for their edible seeds, most notably the chickpea.

    Example

    The curry was made with green gram and served with rice.

    Example

    The local economy relies heavily on the export of various types of gram, which serve as a primary protein source for the population.
Etymology 1

From French gramme, from Ancient Greek γράμμα (grámma, “a small weight, a scruple”). Doublet of gramma.

Etymology 2

From obsolete Portuguese gram (modern Portuguese grão), from Latin grānum. Doublet of corn, grain, granum, and grao.

Etymology 3

Clipping of gramma.

Etymology 4

Clipping of gramophone.

Etymology 5

Clipping of Instagram.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Last updated June 20, 2026