jet

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈjet 

1

a

: an airplane powered by one or more jet engines

b

: jet engine

2

: a long narrow current of high-speed winds (such as a jet stream)

3

a(1)

: a usually forceful stream of fluid (such as water or gas) discharged from a narrow opening or a nozzle

(2)

: a narrow stream of material (such as plasma) emanating or appearing to emanate from a celestial object (such as a radio galaxy)

b

: a nozzle for a jet of fluid

4

: something issuing as if in a jet

talk poured from her in a brilliant jet

—Time

jetlike

ˈjet-ˌlīk 

adjective

jet

2 of 5

verb (1)

jetted; jetting

intransitive verb

1

: to travel by jet airplane

2

: to move or progress by or as if by jet propulsion

jet

3 of 5

verb (2)

jetted; jetting

intransitive verb

: to spout forth : gush

transitive verb

: to emit in a stream : spout

jet

4 of 5

noun (2)

1

: an intense black

2

: a compact velvet-black coal that takes a good polish and is often used for jewelry

jet

5 of 5

adjective

: of the color jet

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• spout
• spurt
• squirt

Verb (2)

• gush
• pour
• rush
• spew
• spout
• spurt
• squirt
• swoosh

Examples of jet in a Sentence

Noun (1)

bought a new showerhead that emits a superpowerful jet of water

Verb (2)

water jetting out of opened fire hydrants at a dangerously high rate

the volcano has been jetting out fiery lava in life-threatening amounts

the presidential candidates jetted through the state for a week before racing off to the next primary

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Shortly after welcoming his son, the pro athlete packed his bags and jetted off to a different Polynesian island with his sight on clinching the 2024 Tahiti Pro title. —Skyler Caruso, Peoplemag, 23 May 2024

The scene is fitting, as Kelce has been jetting around with Swift during the European leg of her massive Eras tour. —Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 16 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb (2)

French jeter, literally, to throw, from Old French, from Latin jactare to throw, frequentative of jacere to throw; akin to Greek hienai to send

Noun (2)

Middle English, from Anglo-French jaiet, from Latin gagates, from Greek gagatēs, from Gagas, town and river in Asia Minor

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1661, in the meaning defined at sense 3a(1)

Verb (1)

1949, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1692, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing jet

• fan-jet
• ink-jet
• ink-jet printer
• jet-black
• jet engine
• jet lag
• jet-propelled
• jet propulsion
• jet set
• jet stream
• jumbo jet
• jump jet
• plasma jet
• pulse-jet engine
• the jet set

Kids Definition

jet

1 of 4 noun

ˈjet 

1

: a compact black coal that takes a good polish and is often used for jewelry

2

: a very dark black

jet

2 of 4 verb

jetted; jetting

: spout entry 1 sense 1, spurt

jet

3 of 4 noun

1

a

: a forceful rush of liquid, gas, or vapor especially through a narrow opening or a nozzle

b

: a nozzle for a jet of fluid (as gas or water)

2

a

: jet engine

b

: jet airplane

jet

4 of 4 verb

jetted; jetting

: to travel by jet airplane

Etymology

Noun

Middle English jet "black mineral," from early French jaiet (same meaning), derived from Greek gagatēs (same meaning), from Gagas, a town and river in Asia Minor

Verb

from early French jeter, literally "to throw," from Latin jactare "to throw"