ENGLISH
REFERENCE

jack

n. countable
B1 Intermediate US //ˈdʒæk// UK //dʒˈæk// jack Archaic Dialect Humorous Informal Slang Vulgar

n. a tool used to lift a heavy object, like a car, off the ground. You use it when you need to change a flat tire.

n. a portable device used for lifting heavy loads, especially vehicles, from below. Often used in the context of mechanical repair or maintenance.


SIMPLE

He used a jack to lift the car and change the tire.

CONTEXTUAL

Before crawling under the vehicle to inspect the exhaust pipe, the mechanic ensured the jack was securely positioned on level ground.

COMPLEX

The hydraulic jack proved indispensable for the construction crew, allowing them to make precise height adjustments to the heavy steel beams during the initial framing phase.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English Jackin, Jankyn, a popular pet form of John; rarely also an anglicized form of French Jacques (equivalent of Jacob and James). It can be also used as nickname for Jacob. Though the name was originally a pet form, it has become more of an independent name. Equivalent to John + -kin, Jake or Jacques. See also Middle French Hennequin, Jannequin and Middle Dutch Janneken.

Usage

Commonly used with the phrasal verb 'jack up' when describing the action of lifting.

Idioms5 entries

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