jolt
1jolt
verb \ˈjōlt\Definition of JOLT
transitive verb
1
: to cause to move with a sudden jerky motion
2
: to give a knock or blow to; specifically : to jar with a quick or hard blow
3
a : to disturb the composure of : shock <crudely jolted out of that mood — Virginia Woolf> b : to interfere with roughly, abruptly, and disconcertingly <determination to pursue his own course was jolted badly — F. L. Paxson>
intransitive verb
: to move with a sudden jerky motion
— jolt·er noun
Examples of JOLT
- The explosion jolted the ship.
- He was jolted forward when the bus stopped suddenly.
- The loud bang jolted me awake.
- The attack jolted the country into action.
- She jolted the medical world with her announcement.
Origin of JOLT
probably blend of obsolete joll to strike and jot to bump
First Known Use: 1596
Related to JOLT
Related Words: rock, sway, swing; chatter, quaver, shiver, thrill, tremble; twitch; dodder, waver; flicker, fluctuate, flutter, oscillate, undulate, wave; beat, palpitate, pit-a-pat, pitter-patter, pulsate, pulse, throb
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