jerk

[ jurk ]

/ dʒɜrk /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR jerk ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a quick, sharp pull, thrust, twist, throw, or the like; a sudden movement: The train started with a jerk.

a spasmodic, usually involuntary, muscular movement, as the reflex action of pulling the hand away from a flame.

any sudden, quick movement of the body, as in dodging something.

Slang. a contemptibly naive, fatuous, foolish, or inconsequential person.

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

jerks, British Informal. physical jerks.

a dance, deriving from the twist, in which the dancers alternately thrust out their pelvises and their shoulders.

the jerks, paroxysms or violent spasmodic muscular movements, as resulting from excitement evoked by some religious services.

verb (used with object)

to pull, twist, move, thrust, or throw with a quick, suddenly arrested motion: She jerked the child by the hand.

to utter in a broken, spasmodic way.

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

verb (used without object)

to give a jerk or jerks.

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

to talk in a broken, spasmodic way.

Informal. to work as a soda jerk.

to dance the jerk.

Verb Phrases

jerk off, Slang: Vulgar. to masturbate.

Origin of jerk

1540–50; 1935–40 for def 4; perhaps dialectal variant of yerk to draw stitches tight (shoemaker's term), thus making the shoe ready to wear, Old English gearcian to prepare, make ready

OTHER WORDS FROM jerk

jerk·er, noun jerk·ing·ly, adverb

Words nearby jerk

jerez, jeri, jericho, jerid, jeritza, jerk, jerk around, jerk off, jerk-off, jerkin, jerkinhead

Definition for jerk (2 of 3)

jerk ²

[ jurk ]

/ dʒɜrk /

verb (used with object)

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

adjective

being or containing a spicy seasoning mixture flavored with allspice, used especially in Jamaican cooking: jerk sauce.

prepared with jerk flavorings, especially by barbecuing or grilling: jerk chicken.

noun

jerky².

Origin of jerk

First recorded in 1700–10; back formation from jerky²

Definition for jerk (3 of 3)

physical jerks

plural noun British.

physical conditioning exercises, as push-ups and knee bends.

Also called jerks.

Example sentences from the Web for jerk

You write a lot about how you were a jerk or a snob when it came to comedy or film.

Patton Oswalt on Fighting Conservatives With Satire |William O’Connor |January 6, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
You cannot perform or externalize your vanity as overtly as Bieber did without again emphasizing to the world you are a jerk.

Justin Bieber's Abs Cannot Save Him |Tim Teeman |September 10, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
If he had a bad experience working with me, I was probably a jerk.

Co-Stars Who Hated Each Other: Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams in 'The Notebook' and More |Marlow Stern |July 4, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
So, you know, I think Suey Park falls pretty far on the “jerk” end of the scale.

An Ode to Angry Asians: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Suey Park |Arthur Chu |April 7, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

After all, pot is practically legal these days, while being a jerk at the Anne Frank museum is still highly frowned upon.

Should Beyoncé Have Instagrammed From the Anne Frank House? |Amy Zimmerman |March 21, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
As soon as Welcome could jerk the pin loose, he whirled and stumped furiously back in the direction of Chub and Penny.

Motor Matt's Daring, or, True to His Friends |Stanley R. Matthews
"Wimmen are kind by natur," said the sailor, shutting his jackknife with a jerk, the only sign of impatience yet visible.

Silent Struggles |Ann S. Stephens
I followed him down a curving path, and at a turn he gave his head a jerk over his right shoulder.

Brownsmith's Boy |George Manville Fenn
She raised her head with a jerk; he saw the fear of himself in her eyes—and knew.

Tiny Luttrell |Ernest William Hornung
Suddenly the car stopped with a jerk right in the middle of the road.

Men in War |Andreas Latzko

British Dictionary definitions for jerk (1 of 3)

jerk ¹

/ (dʒɜːk) /

verb

to move or cause to move with an irregular or spasmodic motion

to throw, twist, pull, or push (something) abruptly or spasmodically

(tr often foll by out) to utter (words, sounds, etc) in a spasmodic, abrupt, or breathless manner

noun

an abrupt or spasmodic movement

an irregular jolting motion the car moved with a jerk

Also called: physical jerks (plural) British informal physical exercises

(plural) US a slang word for chorea

slang, mainly US and Canadian a person regarded with contempt, esp a stupid or ignorant person

Derived forms of jerk

jerker, noun jerking, adjective, noun

Word Origin for jerk

C16: probably variant of yerk to pull stitches tight in making a shoe; compare Old English gearcian to make ready

British Dictionary definitions for jerk (2 of 3)

jerk ²

/ (dʒɜːk) /

verb (tr)

to preserve (venison, beef, etc) by cutting into thin strips and curing by drying in the sun

noun

Also called: jerky jerked meat, esp beef

Word Origin for jerk

C18: back formation from jerky, from charqui

British Dictionary definitions for jerk (3 of 3)

physical jerks

pl n

British informal See jerk 1 (def. 6)

Medical definitions for jerk

jerk

[ jûrk ]

v.

To make spasmodic motions.

n.

A sudden reflexive or spasmodic muscular movement. deep reflex

jerks Involuntary convulsive twitching often resulting from excitement. Often used with the.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

jerk

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Verb Phrases

Origin of jerk

OTHER WORDS FROM jerk

Words nearby jerk

Definition for jerk (2 of 3)

verb (used with object)

adjective

noun

Origin of jerk

Definition for jerk (3 of 3)

plural noun British.

Example sentences from the Web for jerk

British Dictionary definitions for jerk (1 of 3)

verb

noun

Derived forms of jerk

Word Origin for jerk

British Dictionary definitions for jerk (2 of 3)

verb (tr)

noun

Word Origin for jerk

British Dictionary definitions for jerk (3 of 3)

pl n

Medical definitions for jerk

v.

n.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

jerk

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Verb Phrases

Origin of jerk

OTHER WORDS FROM jerk

Words nearby jerk

Definition for jerk (2 of 3)

verb (used with object)

adjective

noun

Origin of jerk

Definition for jerk (3 of 3)

plural noun British.

Words related to jerk

Example sentences from the Web for jerk

British Dictionary definitions for jerk (1 of 3)

verb

noun

Derived forms of jerk

Word Origin for jerk

British Dictionary definitions for jerk (2 of 3)

verb (tr)

noun

Word Origin for jerk

British Dictionary definitions for jerk (3 of 3)

pl n

Medical definitions for jerk

v.

n.