Refine this word faster

Stronger alternatives Opposite tone Use in context Cross-language nuance

Jerk

//ˈdʒɜːk// noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Noun

1
A sudden, often uncontrolled movement, especially of the human body.
"1856, Gustave Flaubert, Madame Bovary, Part III Chapter X, translated by Eleanor Marx-Aveling The black cloth bestrewn with white beads blew up from time to time, laying bare the coffin. The tired bearers walked more slowly, and it advanced with constant jerks, like a boat that pitches with every wave."
2
A rich, spicy Jamaican marinade. Caribbean, Jamaica, uncountable
"Sunshine ranks high in the island's greates burger debate, while the chicken egg rolls with mango chutney and jerk mayo and fabulous fish tacos elevate pub grub to an art."
3
a sudden abrupt pull wordnet
4
A quick pull on something.
"When I yell "OK," give the mooring line a good jerk!"
5
Meat (or sometimes vegetables) cured by jerking, in which it is coated in spices and slow-cooked over a fire or grill traditionally composed of green pimento wood positioned over burning coals; charqui. Caribbean, Jamaica, uncountable
"Jerk chicken is a local favorite."

Show 13 more definitions

6
an abrupt spasmodic movement wordnet
7
A person with unlikable or obnoxious qualities and behavior, typically mean, self-centered, or disagreeable. US, derogatory, slang
"I finally fired him, because he was being a real jerk to his customers, even to some of the staff."
8
raising a weight from shoulder height to above the head by straightening the arms wordnet
9
A stupid person; an idiot or fool. US, derogatory, slang
10
meat (especially beef) cut in strips and dried in the sun wordnet
11
A lift in which the weight is taken with a quick motion from shoulder height to a position above the head with arms fully extended and held there for a brief time.
12
a dull stupid fatuous person wordnet
13
Masturbation. slang
14
(mechanics) the rate of change of acceleration wordnet
15
Masturbation.; An act of satirizing behavior that is, to an extent, common in a community, especially in circlejerk subreddits. Internet, slang
"Jerk of the Year contender"
16
A dance, popular in Western culture in the 1960s, in which the head and upper body is thrown forwards regularly to the beat of the music.
"Girls, hey, what's that you're doing Girl, girl, what's that you're doing You got to show me the steps to it Somehow, gonna learn how to do it Doing the jerk Hey, do the jerk Girl, come on and work Hey, do the jerk."
17
The rate of change in acceleration with respect to time.
18
A soda jerk. US, obsolete

Verb

1
To make a sudden uncontrolled movement. intransitive
"York came to me first, whilst the groom stood at Ginger's head. He drew my head back and fixed the rein so tight that it was almost intolerable; then he went to Ginger, who was impatiently jerking her head up and down against the bit, as was her way now."
2
To cure (meat) by cutting it into strips and drying it, originally in the sun.
"Snow stalled him in the timber; his food was all but gone when he managed to kill an antelope and jerk a supply of venison."
3
make an uncontrolled, short, jerky motion wordnet
4
To give a quick, often unpleasant tug or shake. transitive
5
throw or toss with a quick motion wordnet

Show 9 more definitions

6
To masturbate. US, slang, vulgar
7
pull, or move with a sudden movement wordnet
8
To masturbate.; To satirize behavior that is, to an extent, common in a community, especially in circlejerk subreddits. Internet, US, slang, vulgar
"This is jerking’s 9/11"
9
jump vertically, with legs stiff and back arched wordnet
10
To beat, to hit. obsolete
11
move with abrupt, seemingly uncontrolled motions wordnet
12
To throw with a quick and suddenly arrested motion of the hand. obsolete
"to jerk a stone"
13
To lift using a jerk. transitive, usually
14
To flout with contempt. obsolete

Etymology

Etymology 1

Probably from Middle English yerk (“sudden motion”) and Middle English yerkid (“tightly pulled”), from Old English ġearc (“ready, active, quick”) and Old English ġearcian (“to prepare, make ready, procure, furnish, supply”). Cognate with Scots yerk (“to jerk”). Related also to English yare (“ready”).

Etymology 2

Etymology 3

Denominal verb of jerky, itself borrowed from Spanish charqui, from Quechua ch'arki.

Etymology 4

Denominal verb of jerky, itself borrowed from Spanish charqui, from Quechua ch'arki.

Next best steps

Find stronger synonyms See usage examples Check pronunciation

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: jerk