Word forms: plural promslanguage note: The spelling Prom is usually used for meaning [sense 3].
1. countable noun
A prom is a formal dance at a school or college which is usually held at the end of the academic year.
[US]
I didn't want to go to the prom with Craig.
...my senior prom.
2. singular noun
The prom is the road by the sea where people go for a walk.
[British]
3. plural noun
TheProms are a series of concerts of mainly classical music that are held each year in London and some other cities. There is usually an area at these concerts where people stand, as well as seats.
[mainly British]
...the Last Night of the Proms.
...his final Prom performance of Elgar's First Symphony.
A Prom is an individual concert in the series.
Wednesday's Prom featured the London Mozart Players.
prom in British English
(prɒm)
noun
1. British short for promenade (sense 1), promenade concert
2. informal short for promenade (sense 3)
PROM in British English
(prɒm) computing
noun acronym for
programmable read-only memory
PROM in American English
(prɑm)
noun
a type of ROM chip that can be programmed to a particular user's needs
Word origin
p(rogrammable) r(ead-)o(nly) m(emory)
prom in American English1
(prɑm)
US
noun
a ball or dance, as of a particular class at a school or college
Word origin
contr. < promenade
prom in American English2
promontory
Examples of 'prom' in a sentence
prom
Your high school prom was not necessarily that pleasant.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
My son joined the organising committee of his school prom in a bid to loosen the dress code.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Black tie at the school prom?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Their two forthcoming Proms prove the point.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
This was the first Proms performance of the complete music.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
She spent her final few weeks studying and sitting her GCSEs and choosing a dress for the school prom.
The Sun (2013)
The Proms include two contrasting examples.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Is this year 's Proms programme a winner?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
His absence from the year 's Proms was as inexplicable as it was spiteful.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Happily this year 's Proms are championing him.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He once said that he had loved her'with my whole heart' since his high school senior prom.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In other languages
prom
British English: prom NOUN
A prom is a formal dance at a school or college which is usually held at the end of the academic year.
I didn't want to go to the prom with him.
American English: prom
Brazilian Portuguese: baile de formatura
Chinese: 舞会
European Spanish: baile de graduación
French: bal de fin d'année
German: Ball
Italian: ballo di fine anno della scuola
Japanese: ダンスパーティ
Korean: 무도회
European Portuguese: baile de formatura
Latin American Spanish: fiesta de graduación
Chinese translation of 'prom'
prom
(prɔm)
n(c)
(Brit, by sea) 海滨(濱)大道 (hǎibīn dàdào) (条(條), tiáo)
(US, = dance) 学生的正式舞会
在英国， prom （即 promenade concert 的略称）是由一系列古典音乐会组成。每年夏天，由 Royal Albert Hall 在伦敦举办的 prom 最为著名。每季的最后一场音乐会—Last Night of the Proms—通常会有电视转播，并总要演奏一些爱国歌曲。在场的听众一边站着挥舞手中的英国国旗，一边纵情歌唱。美国人对 prom 的理解却不大相同，其含义为高中或大学学年末举行的一场正式舞会。senior prom 标志着 high school 的结束。对于美国年轻人而言，这也是成长历程中一个重要的典礼。