jerk

¹jerk

noun \ˈjərk\

Definition of JERK

1

: a single quick motion of short duration

2

a : jolting, bouncing, or thrusting motions

b : a tendency to produce spasmodic motions

3

a : an involuntary spasmodic muscular movement due to reflex action

b plural : involuntary twitchings due to nervous excitement

4

a : an annoyingly stupid or foolish person

b : an unlikable person; especially : one who is cruel, rude, or small-minded

5

: the pushing of a weight from shoulder height to a position overhead in weight lifting

Examples of JERK

1. That jerk can't do anything right.
2. Most of the kids are nice, but some are jerks.
3. The dead branch came loose after a few jerks.
4. He felt the jerk of the line as a fish took the bait.
5. The car started with a jerk.

Origin of JERK

probably alteration of yerk

First Known Use: 1575

Related to JERK

Synonyms

bastard, beast, bleeder [British], blighter [chiefly British], boor, bounder, bugger, buzzard, cad, chuff, churl, clown, creep, cretin, crud [slang], crumb [slang], cur, dirtbag [slang], dog, fink, heel, hound, joker, louse, lout, pill, rat, rat fink, reptile, rotter, schmuck [slang], scum, scumbag [slang], scuzzball [slang], skunk, sleaze, sleazebag [slang], sleazeball [slang], slime, slimeball [slang], slob, snake, so-and-so, sod [chiefly British], stinkard, stinker, swine, toad, varmint, vermin, son of a gun

Antonyms

push

Related Words

barbarian, brute, caveman, Neanderthal, savage; loudmouth, vulgarian; lowlife, miscreant, rascal, rogue, roughneck, scab, scamp, scoundrel, villain, wretch; booby, doofus [slang], fool, jackass, nincompoop, ninny, nit [chiefly British], nitwit, nut, schmo (or schmoe) [slang]; airhead, birdbrain, blockhead, dink [slang], dolt, dope, dork [slang], goon, half-wit, idiot, imbecile, moron, turkey; brat, insolent, nuisance, pest, snip; snob, snoot, snot; dweeb [slang], nerd

Near Antonyms

hero, heroine, idol, role model; gentleman, lady; angel, saint

Rhymes with JERK

burke, Burke, chirk, cirque, clerk, dirk, irk, kirk, lurk, murk, perk, quirk, shirk, smirk, stirk, Turk, work, yerk, zerk

²jerk

verb

Definition of JERK

transitive verb

1

: to give a quick suddenly arrested push, pull, or twist to

2

: to propel or move with or as if with a quick suddenly arrested motion

3

: to mix and serve (as sodas) behind a soda fountain

intransitive verb

1

: to make a sudden spasmodic motion

2

: to move in short abrupt motions or with frequent jolts

— jerk·er noun

First Known Use of JERK

1589

³jerk

transitive verb

Definition of JERK

: to preserve (meat) in long sun-dried slices

Origin of JERK

back-formation from ¹jerky

First Known Use: 1707

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

jerk

noun \ˈjərk\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of JERK

: an involuntary spasmodic muscular movement due to reflex action; especially : one induced by an external stimulus—see knee jerk