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Glite Dictionary
to spot jam

to spot jam

9.1
To intentionally block a single radio or radar frequency using electronic signals
  • phrasal verb
  • Specialized
translation icon : interferir
  • It is essential to spot jam only the necessary channels to avoid disrupting friendly signals.

Examples

  • Operators were trained to spot jam specific frequencies targeted by hostile forces.

  • The military used advanced equipment to spot jam enemy communications during the conflict.

  • The military can spot jam enemy communications.

  • They spot jammed the signals during the operation.

  • The military used sophisticated technology to spot jam enemy radar frequencies effectively.

  • To ensure the safety of their communications, the operators must spot jam certain hostile broadcasts.

  • During the exercise, they were instructed to spot jam only the frequencies deemed necessary for the mission.

Synonyms

to jam
vsto spot jam
  • Specialized
26 7.5

Deliberately block radio or electronic signals

focuses on one frequency only rather than blocking broad signals
to point jam
vsto spot jam
  • Specialized
9.9

To block a narrow radio channel to stop communications

targets a single frequency precisely rather than a wider band

How Targeted

to spot jam
  • Specialized
9.1
to jam
  • Specialized
26 7.5
to interfere
487 3.5

Surface Forms

spot jam infinitive
spot jammed past
spot jammed past participle
spot jamming present participle
spot jams third person singular

Morphology

spot + jam

The verb 'jam' clearly signals electronic interference, so a learner who knows that word will infer the phrase relates to disrupting signals. However, the sense of 'spot' here is technical ('targeted/specific') rather than the given advertising-slot sense, and the precise idea of interfering with a single frequency is specialized and not fully predictable from the parts, so the expression is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Spot jam may come from a simple picture: imagine putting sticky jam on one spot of a radio dial so that only that single point is blocked. That's why it means 'to interfere with one frequency' today.