A dram is a small unit of weight, and in another sense it is the basic currency unit of Armenia. The word is most often used for the old apothecaryA person who prepared and sold medicines in the past. weight, though that usage is now rare outside historicalRelated to the past and to studying events from earlier times. or technicalUsed in a specialized field or profession, not everyday language. contexts.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /dræm/
Easy pronunciation: DRAM (approximate spelling).
Stress: One syllable, so the whole word is stressed.
This is the old apothecary weight unit, not the Armenian currency.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Dram Meaning
an old small unit of weight
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a unit of apothecary weight equal to an eighth of an ounce or to 60 grains
Example: The recipe called for a dram of the herb mixture.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- drachm — Historical spelling/variant used for the same apothecary weight.
- drachma — Listed as a synonym in the source data, but this form is more commonly associated with the old Greek currency, so it can be confusing.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Dram
Meaning 2
a very small unit of weight
Part of speech: noun
Definition: 1/16 ounce or 1.771 grams
Example: The scale measured the spice in drams.
Meaning 3
the currency used in Armenia
Part of speech: noun
Definition: the basic unit of money in Armenia
Example: Prices in the market were listed in drams.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Dram Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- drachm
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing dram the weight with dram the Armenian currency.
- Using drachma as if it were the standard modern synonym for the weight unit.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does dram mean?
Dram can mean a very small unit of weight, especially in historical or apothecary use. It can also mean the basic unit of money in Armenia.
What are the synonyms of dram?
For the weight sense, the main synonym is drachm. Drachma appears in some source data, but it is potentially confusing and not a strong everyday substitute.
Is dram still used today?
It is mostly a historical or technical term for weight, though it is still used as the name of Armenia’s currency unit.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.