Word
jar
US/ˈdʒɑɹ/
UK/dʒˈɑː/
Definitions
01glass container
A2 · Elementary Countable noun
n. a glass or clay container with a wide opening, used for storing food like jam or honey.
n. a cylindrical container, typically made of glass or ceramic, with a wide mouth and no handle.
“She opened a new jar of strawberry jam for breakfast.”
“The pantry was lined with glass jars containing various preserved fruits and pickled vegetables from the summer harvest.”
02a drink
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun British English · Informal
n. a glass of beer, usually a pint.
n. a pint of beer or cider; often used metonymically to refer to the act of drinking.
“Do you want to go to the pub for a jar after work?”
“After a long week at the office, the team headed to the local tavern for a few jars and some casual conversation.”
03a physical shock
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a sudden, sharp shake or movement.
n. a sudden impact or vibration caused by a collision or sharp movement.
“The car hit a deep hole in the road with a violent jar.”
“The sudden jar of the train braking caused several passengers to lose their balance and grab the handrails.”
04to shake or jolt
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to shake something or someone suddenly and hard.
v. to strike or shake something with a sudden, sharp impact that causes a vibration.
“The earthquake jarred the dishes on the shelves.”
“The heavy impact jarred his shoulder, leaving him with a dull ache that lasted for several days.”
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English jarre (“jar”), from Medieval Latin jarra, or from Middle French jarre (“liquid measure”) (from Old French jare; modern French jarre (“earthenware jar”)), or from Spanish jarra, jarro (“jug, pitcher; mug, stein”), all from Arabic جَرَّة (jarra, “earthen receptacle”). The word is cognate with Italian giara (“jar; crock”), Occitan jarro, Portuguese jarra, jarro (“jug; ewer, pitcher”). The verb is derived from the noun.
From earlier jar, jur, jarre, jurre, of uncertain origin. Possibly from earlier char, chur, charre, churre (now spelt chirr, churr (“to make a sound”); compare also nightjar and its variant nightchurr), from Middle English chirren, cherren, churren (“to sound, cry, murmur, complain”), from Old English ċeorian (“to murmur, gripe, complain with just cause”), from Proto-West Germanic karēn (“to complain”). For the change of ch to j, compare also charm, jarm (“chirping”); achar, ajar (“slightly turned or open”), chaw, jaw, etc. The noun is derived from the verb.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- A2 · Elementary
- Updated
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