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English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

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“J” Words

jazzed
adj
Very excited or enthusiastic.
jazzy
adj
Resembling or influenced by jazz music.
jealous
adj
Worried or suspicious that a partner's affection has shifted elsewhere.
jealously
adv
In a jealous or fiercely protective manner.
jealousy
noun
A feeling of resentment or insecurity caused by fear of losing someone's affection or by envy of another's advantage.
jean
noun
A sturdy cotton twill fabric, now more commonly known by its plural form "jeans."
jeanette
noun
A lightweight, coarse cotton fabric once used for linings.
Jeanie
name
A feminine given name, a pet form of Jean or Jeanne.
Jeanne
name
A feminine given name, the French form of Jane or Joan.
Jeannette
name
A feminine given name, a French diminutive of Jeanne.
Jeannie
name
A feminine given name, a variant spelling of Jeanie or pet form of Jean.
Jeannine
name
A feminine given name, a variant of Jeanine derived from Jeanne.
jeans
noun
Trousers made of sturdy cotton denim, traditionally blue.
Jeb
name
A masculine given name, a short form of Jebediah or Jebediah-related names.
Jed
name
A masculine given name, a short form of Jedediah.
Jedediah
name
A masculine given name of Hebrew origin, meaning "beloved of God."
Jedi
noun
In the Star Wars fictional universe, a member of an order of warrior-monks attuned to a mystical energy called the Force.
Jeep
noun
A sturdy, boxy vehicle built for rough or off-road terrain.
jeepers
intj
An exclamation of surprise or mild dismay.
jeering
noun
A mocking or scornful remark, usually shouted.
jeet
intj
Casual, run-together way of asking "did you eat?" — used as an informal greeting or genuine question about food.
Jeeves
name
A surname best known as the name of the archetypal, unflappably competent valet in P. G. Wodehouse's stories.
jefe
noun
A boss or leader, especially used informally in contexts with Spanish or Mexican influence.
Jeff
verb
Printing trade slang: to gamble using type spacers (em quads) as makeshift dice.
Jefferies
name
An English surname, a patronymic form meaning "son of Jeffrey."
Jeffers
name
An English surname, a shortened patronymic form of Jefferson or Jeffrey.
Jefferson
noun
A US two-dollar bill (informal, so called from the portrait of Thomas Jefferson on it).
Jeffersonian
adjective
Relating to Thomas Jefferson or the political ideas associated with him, especially limited federal government and agrarian democracy.
Jeffery
name
A masculine given name, a variant spelling of Jeffrey.
Jeffrey
name
A masculine given name of Germanic origin, related to Geoffrey, and also a common English surname.
Jeffries
name
An English surname, a patronymic variant meaning "son of Jeffrey."
Jeffy
name
A masculine given name, an informal pet form of Jeffrey.
Jehovah
noun
A traditional English rendering of the Hebrew name of God found in the Old Testament.
jeju
noun
A slender freshwater fish native to South American rivers, related to the wolf fish family.
Jekyll
name
A surname, famous as the name of Dr. Henry Jekyll in Robert Louis Stevenson's novella "The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde."
Jelena
name
A feminine given name, a Slavic form of Helen, meaning "light" or "shining one."
jello
noun
A wobbly, sweet dessert made by dissolving flavored gelatin in hot water and letting it set, often known by the trademark name Jell-O.
jelly
noun
A soft, semi-solid food made by setting fruit juice or another liquid with gelatin or pectin, often spread on bread or eaten as a dessert.
jellybean
noun
A small, bean-shaped, brightly colored, chewy sugar candy.
jellyfish
noun
A soft-bodied, mostly transparent sea creature with a bell-shaped body and trailing tentacles, often capable of stinging.
Jem
name
A unisex given name, a short form of Jeremy or James, notably a character in "To Kill a Mockingbird."
Jemima
noun
A boot with elastic side panels instead of laces or buckles, allowing it to be pulled straight on.
Jemma
name
A feminine given name, a variant spelling of Gemma.
Jen
name
A feminine given name, a short form of Jennifer.
Jena
name
A feminine given name, a variant of Gina or Jenna, and also a city in Germany known for its university.
Jenga
noun
A game in which players take turns pulling wooden blocks from a stacked tower and placing them on top, trying not to be the one who makes it collapse.
Jenkins
noun
A person who fawns over or flatters others, especially to gain favor.
Jenks
name
An English surname, historically a variant of Jenkins.
Jenn
name
A feminine given name, a short form of Jennifer.
Jenna
name
A feminine given name, a modern variant related to Jennifer or Jane.
Jenner
name
An English surname, historically an occupational name for an engineer or ironworker, borne notably by physician Edward Jenner.
Jenni
name
A feminine given name, a variant spelling of Jenny, short for Jennifer.
Jennie
name
A feminine given name, a variant spelling of Jenny.
Jennifer
name
A feminine given name of Cornish origin, a form of Guinevere meaning "fair one" or "white wave."
jenny
noun
A machine with multiple spindles used to spin thread from raw fiber, historically important to the textile industry (short for "spinning jenny").
Jensen
name
A Scandinavian surname and given name, meaning "son of Jens" (a Danish form of John).
Jenson
name
A masculine given name and surname, a variant of Jensen, meaning "son of Jens."
jeon
noun
A savory Korean pancake made by coating sliced vegetables, meat, or fish in flour and egg and pan-frying them.
Jeong
name
A Korean surname and given name, also written Jung or Chung, meaning "quiet" or "calm" depending on the underlying hanja.
jeopardize
verb
To put something at risk of being lost, damaged, or ruined.
jeopardy
noun
A situation of serious risk of harm, failure, or loss.
Jeppe
name
A Scandinavian masculine given name, a form of Jacob.
jer
noun
In Slavic linguistics, either of two short vowel sounds from Old Slavic that later weakened or disappeared in most positions.
Jeremiah
noun
A person who constantly predicts doom or disaster; a gloomy prophet of bad news.
Jeremy
name
A masculine given name of Hebrew origin, the English form of Jeremiah, meaning "God will exalt."
Jeri
name
A feminine given name, a variant spelling of Jerri or Gerri, short for Geraldine.
Jericho
noun
An ancient city in the West Bank, one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the world, famous from the Biblical story of its walls falling.
jerk
verb
To move suddenly and sharply, often without control.
jerking
noun
A sudden, sharp, involuntary movement.
jerky
adj
Moving in sudden, uneven starts and stops rather than smoothly.
Jermaine
name
A masculine given name derived from the French word for "German."
Jerome
name
A masculine given name of Greek origin, meaning "sacred name," borne by Saint Jerome, translator of the Latin Vulgate Bible.
Jerri
name
A feminine given name, a variant spelling of Jeri or Geri, short for Geraldine.
Jerry
noun
A casual nickname for Gerald, Gerard, Jeremy, or similar names.
jersey
noun
A close-fitting knitted top, originally made of wool, worn on the upper body.
Jerusalem
name
A city in the Middle East, considered holy by Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and the capital claimed by Israel.
Jervis
name
An English surname, a variant of Jarvis, derived from a Germanic personal name.
Jess
noun
A short strap fastened around a hawk's leg in falconry, used to attach a leash.
Jessa
name
A feminine given name, a short form of Jessica.
Jesse
noun
A decorative artwork, often a stained-glass window or branching candlestick, showing the family tree leading to Christ.
Jessica
name
A feminine given name, believed to have been coined by Shakespeare in "The Merchant of Venice" from the Hebrew name Iscah.
Jessie
noun
A dated, derogatory British slang term for a weak or effeminate man.
Jessop
name
An English surname, a variant of Jessup, itself a form of Joseph.
Jessup
name
An English surname derived from the given name Joseph.
jest
noun
A remark or action meant as a joke rather than seriously.
jester
noun
Historically, an entertainer employed by a royal or noble court to amuse people with jokes, music, and clowning.
Jesu
name
An archaic or poetic vocative form of the name Jesus, used especially in older hymns and prayers.
Jesuit
noun
A member of the Society of Jesus, a Catholic religious order known for its schools and missionary work.
Jesus
noun
The central figure of Christianity, regarded by Christians as the son of God and the Messiah.
jet
noun
A fast-moving stream of liquid, gas, or flame forced out of a small opening.
Jeter
name
An American surname, notably borne by former baseball shortstop Derek Jeter.
Jethro
name
A masculine given name of Hebrew origin, meaning "abundance," the biblical father-in-law of Moses.
jetpack
verb
To fly or travel using a wearable device that propels the user through the air with jets of gas.
Jets
name
A nickname used by several sports teams, most notably the New York Jets of the NFL.
jetson
noun
Goods thrown overboard from a ship to lighten it, especially in an emergency.
Jett
name
A masculine given name inspired by the word "jet," suggesting speed.
jettison
verb
To throw cargo or equipment overboard or overboard-equivalent, usually to lighten a vessel or aircraft in an emergency.
jetty
noun
A narrow structure built out into water, used as a landing place for boats or to protect a shoreline.
Jew
noun
A person who is Jewish by religion, ethnicity, or descent.
jewel
noun
A precious stone, especially one cut and polished for use in jewellery.
jeweler
noun
Someone whose trade is making, repairing, or selling jewellery.
jewellery
noun
Ornamental items such as rings, necklaces, and bracelets, typically made from precious metals or stones.
jewelry
noun
Ornamental items such as rings, necklaces, and bracelets, typically made from precious metals or stones.
jewels
noun
Plural of jewel; precious stones or ornamental items made with them.
Jewess
noun
A Jewish woman or girl (now often considered dated or potentially offensive).
Jewish
adj
Relating to Judaism, the Jewish people, or Jewish culture and heritage.
Jez
name
A short, informal form of the given name Jeremy (or Jeremiah).
Jezebel
noun
A scheming, shameless, or manipulative woman (from the biblical queen of the same name).
JFK
noun
Common shorthand for U.S. President John F. Kennedy, or for New York's JFK International Airport.
Ji
name
A Korean and Chinese given name element and surname, with meanings varying by the underlying character, often "wisdom" or "aspiration."
Jia
name
A Chinese given name, commonly meaning "good" or "beautiful" depending on the character used.
Jian
name
A Chinese masculine given name, often meaning "strong" or "healthy" depending on the character used.
Jiang
name
A common Chinese surname, also meaning "river."
jiao
noun
A Chinese unit of currency equal to one tenth of a yuan.
jib
noun
A triangular sail set at the front of a sailboat, ahead of the mainmast.
Jie
noun
An ancient nomadic people of northern China, historically grouped by the Han Chinese among the so-called "Five Barbarians."
jiff
noun
A very short amount of time; a moment.
jig
noun
A lively folk dance, or the fast tune written for it, typically in 6/8 time.
jigger
noun
A small measuring cup used by bartenders to pour a precise amount of liquor, typically 1 to 1.5 fluid ounces.
jiggle
verb
To move or shake something with quick, short movements from side to side.
jiggling
noun
A quick, small back-and-forth or up-and-down movement.
jiggly
adj
Wobbling or shaking slightly, especially describing something soft.
jiggy
adj
Excited, fidgety, or full of restless energy.
jigsaw
noun
A power tool with a thin blade that moves rapidly up and down, used to cut curved shapes in wood or metal.
jihad
noun
In Islam, a struggle or striving — either an inner spiritual effort toward self-improvement, or, in some contexts, armed struggle in defense of the faith.
jihadi
noun
A person who takes part in or supports armed jihad, especially as part of a militant movement.
Jill
noun
An old-fashioned informal term for a young woman or sweetheart, as in the phrase "every Jack has his Jill."
Jillian
name
A feminine given name, a variant of Gillian, ultimately from the Roman family name Julius.
Jilly
name
A feminine given name, a pet form of Jillian or Gillian.
Jim
verb
To pry or force something open, or to tamper with it clumsily (a casual variant of "jimmy").
Jimbo
name
A masculine given name, an informal, jocular pet form of James or Jim.
Jimenez
name
A Spanish surname, a patronymic form meaning "son of Jimeno."
Jimi
name
A masculine given name, a stylized variant of Jimmy, famously used by guitarist Jimi Hendrix.
jiminy
intj
An exclamation of mild surprise or annoyance.
Jimmie
name
A masculine given name, a variant spelling of Jimmy, a pet form of James.
Jimmy
verb
To force open, especially a lock or window, using a crowbar or similar tool.
jin
noun
In bonsai cultivation, a section of dead, stripped wood on a branch or trunk, shaped to suggest age.
Jing
noun
In traditional Chinese medicine, a vital essence stored in the kidneys believed to be the foundation of physical health and long life.
jingle
noun
A short, catchy tune used in advertising to help people remember a product or brand.
jingling
noun
A light, ringing, rattling sound, like small bells or coins knocking together.
jinkies
intj
An exclamation of surprise or amazement.
jinks
intj
An exclamation of surprise, similar to "jinkies."
jinn
noun
In Arabic and Islamic tradition, a supernatural being made of smokeless fire, distinct from angels and humans, capable of taking different forms.
Jinnah
name
A surname, most notably borne by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, founder of Pakistan.
Jinny
name
A feminine given name, a pet form of Jean, Jane, or Virginia.
jinx
noun
A curse or spell believed to bring bad luck.
jip
noun
Vulgar slang for semen.
Jiro
name
A Japanese masculine given name, traditionally meaning "second son."
jitterbug
noun
A lively swing dance from the 1930s and 40s, built on a two-step pattern with energetic, sometimes acrobatic moves.
jittery
adj
Nervous, anxious, or unable to keep still.