jerk Hear it!

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jerk1 definition

jerk (jʉrk)

transitive verb

  1. to pull, twist, push, thrust, or throw with a sudden, sharp movement
  2. ☆ Informal to make and serve (ice cream sodas)

Etymology: var. of archaic yerk < ?

intransitive verb

  1. to move with a jerk or in jerks
  2. to twitch

noun

  1. a sharp, abrupt movement; quick pull, twist, push, etc.
  2. a sudden muscular contraction caused by a reflex action
  3. ☆ Slang a person regarded as disagreeable, contemptible, etc., esp. as the result of foolish or mean behavior
  4. Weight Lifting a lift in which the barbell is raised upward from shoulder level with the arms completely extended
jerk Idioms

jerk off

☆
Vulgar, Slang to masturbate: used chiefly of males

jerk out

to utter sharply and abruptly
jerk2 definition

jerk (jʉrk)

transitive verb

to preserve (meat) by slicing into strips and drying, esp. originally in the sun

Etymology: altered (after jerk) < jerky

noun

jerky

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

medical jerk definition - medical

jerk Synonyms

jerk

n.

  1. A spasmodic movement

    twitch, tic, shrug, wiggle, shake, quiver, flick, snap, yank, tug, wrench, lurch, jolt, jump, jounce, jiggle; see also bump 1.

  2. *A contemptible person

    brute, rat*, fool*, chump*; see fool 1, rascal.


jerk

v.

  1. To undergo a spasm

    twitch, shrug, have a convulsion, wriggle, shake, quake, quiver, shiver, wiggle, jiggle, dance; see also shake 1, twitch 2.

  2. To move an object with a quick tug

    snatch, grab, tug, yank, whisk, pluck, snag, hook, flip, bounce, fling, hurtle, flick, wrench, twist, pull.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

jerk Usage Examples

Object

  • movement: I mainly concentrate on creating a nice shaped pattern, consistent throws to the same height, clean catches, no jerking arm movements.

Adjective modifier

  • myoclonic: They don't really annoy me and nothing like the myoclonic jerks which do show up on EEG.

Modifies a noun

  • reaction: No need for the knee jerk reaction week's prior.

Modifying Another Word

  • violently: It was very alarming as she jerked violently and rolled around the cage.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • around: More often than not, the camera jerks around of its own accord, settling at appalling angles.

Possessives

  • reaction: The resulting ' knee jerk ' emotional reaction has the potential to use a great deal your personal energy.

Preposition: of

  • limb: Some children may also have very frequent jerks of the limbs or trunk.

Noun used with modifier

  • knee: No need for the knee jerk reaction week's prior.
jerk usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

jerk quotes

Er l a« chelte und sagte: 'Von mir willst du denWeg erfahren?' 'Ja,'sagte ich,'da ich ihn selbst nich finden kann.' 'Gibs auf, gibs auf,'sagte er und wandte sich mit einem groÞen Schwunge ab, so wie Leute, die mit ihrem Lachen allein sein wollen. Hesmiled and said: 'Youasking metheway?' 'Yes,'Isaid, 'since I cannot find it myself.' 'Give it up! Give it up!'said he, and turned with a sudden jerk, like someone who wants to be alone with his laughter.

-Kafka, Franz

jerk quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"jerk." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/jerk>

APA Style

jerk. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/jerk

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