Definitions for jerkdʒɜrk

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Random House Webster's College Dictionary

jerkdʒɜrk(n.)

  1. a quick, sharp pull, thrust, twist, or the like; sudden, abrupt movement.

  2. a sudden involuntary muscle contraction, as of a reflex.

    Category: Physiology

  3. Slang. a contemptibly naive, stupid, or insignificant person.

    Category: Status (usage)

  4. (in weightlifting) the raising of a weight from shoulder height to above the head by straightening the arms.

    Category: Sport

  5. the jerks, involuntary, spasmodic muscular movements, as from emotional tension.

  6. (v.t.)to pull, twist, move, thrust, or throw with a quick, suddenly arrested motion:

    She jerked the child by the hand.

  7. Informal. to prepare and serve (sodas, ice cream, etc.) at a soda fountain.

    Category: Informal

  8. (v.i.)to give a jerk or jerks.

  9. to move with a quick, sharp motion; move spasmodically.

  10. Informal. to work as a soda jerk.

    Category: Informal

  11. jerk around,to treat (someone) in a manipulative and deceitful manner.

    Category: Common Vocabulary

  12. jerk off,Vulgar Slang. to masturbate.

    Category: Verb Phrase, Status (usage)

Origin of jerk:

1540–50; perh. dial. var. of yerk to draw stitches tight (shoemaker's term)

jerk′er(n.)

jerkdʒɜrk(v.t.)

  1. to preserve (meat, esp. beef) by cutting in strips and drying in the sun.

    Category: Cooking

  2. (adj.)being or containing a spicy seasoning mixture flavored with allspice, used esp. in Jamaican cooking:

    jerk sauce.

    Category: Cooking

  3. prepared with jerk flavorings, esp. by barbecuing or grilling:

    jerk chicken.

    Category: Cooking

Origin of jerk:

1700–10; < AmerSp charquear, der. of charquijerky2

Princeton's WordNet

  1. jerk, dork(noun)

    a dull stupid fatuous person

  2. jerk, jerking, jolt, saccade(noun)

    an abrupt spasmodic movement

  3. jerk(noun)

    (mechanics) the rate of change of acceleration

  4. jerky, jerked meat, jerk(noun)

    meat (especially beef) cut in strips and dried in the sun

  5. jerk(noun)

    raising a weight from shoulder height to above the head by straightening the arms

  6. tug, jerk(verb)

    a sudden abrupt pull

  7. yank, jerk(verb)

    pull, or move with a sudden movement

    "He turned the handle and jerked the door open"

  8. jerk, twitch(verb)

    move with abrupt, seemingly uncontrolled motions

    "The patient's legs were jerkings"

  9. twitch, jerk(verb)

    make an uncontrolled, short, jerky motion

    "his face is twitching"

  10. buck, jerk, hitch(verb)

    jump vertically, with legs stiff and back arched

    "the yung filly bucked"

  11. jerk, flick(verb)

    throw or toss with a quick motion

    "flick a piece of paper across the table"; "jerk his head"

Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary

  1. jerk(verb)ʒɜrk

    to move or make move with quick, forceful movements

    The bus jerked to a halt.; She jerked the door open.; I jerked on the rope to tighten it.

  2. jerk(noun)ʒɜrk

    an impolite word meaning unpleasant or unkind person

    What a jerk!

Webster Dictionary

  1. Jerk(verb)

    to cut into long slices or strips and dry in the sun; as, jerk beef. See Charqui

  2. Jerk(verb)

    to beat; to strike

  3. Jerk(verb)

    to give a quick and suddenly arrested thrust, push, pull, or twist, to; to yerk; as, to jerk one with the elbow; to jerk a coat off

  4. Jerk(verb)

    to throw with a quick and suddenly arrested motion of the hand; as, to jerk a stone

  5. Jerk(verb)

    to make a sudden motion; to move with a start, or by starts

  6. Jerk(verb)

    to flout with contempt

  7. Jerk(noun)

    a short, sudden pull, thrust, push, twitch, jolt, shake, or similar motion

  8. Jerk(noun)

    a sudden start or spring


Translations for jerk

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary

jerk(noun)

a short, sudden movement

We felt a jerk as the train started.

Get even more translations for jerk »


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