jerk

n. a person who is mean, selfish, or treats others badly.

n. a derogatory term for an obnoxious, contemptible, or socially inept person. Informal in register.

“I can't believe he didn't apologize; he's such a jerk.”

“The manager was a complete jerk to the staff, constantly belittling their efforts in front of clients.”

Informal · American English

n. a quick, sharp pull or a sudden movement of the body.

n. a sudden, abrupt pull or twist; also refers to an involuntary muscular contraction.

“The car started with a sudden jerk, making everyone lean forward.”

“A sudden jerk of the fishing line indicated that something substantial had finally taken the bait.”

n. a spicy style of Jamaican cooking, often used for chicken or pork.

n. a style of Jamaican cooking in which meat is dry-rubbed or wet-marinated with a hot spice mixture called Jamaican jerk spice. Uncountable in this sense.

“We ordered the jerk chicken with a side of rice and peas.”

“The authentic aroma of pimento wood and jerk seasoning filled the air as the street vendors prepared the evening meal.”

n. how quickly the acceleration of an object changes.

n. the rate of change of acceleration with respect to time; the third derivative of position.

“Engineers try to minimize jerk to make the elevator ride feel smooth.”

“In high-speed rail design, limiting the jerk is essential for passenger comfort during transitions between different grades of acceleration.”

Technical

v. to move or pull something with a quick, sharp motion.

v. to move with a sudden, sharp motion; can be used transitively with an object or intransitively.

“He jerked the door open and ran outside into the rain.”

“The horse jerked its head away when the stranger tried to stroke its nose.”

v. to cut meat into long strips and dry it to keep it for a long time.

v. to prepare meat by cutting it into strips and drying it in the sun or over a fire.

“The hunters would jerk the venison to ensure they had food for the winter.”

“Historically, sailors would jerk beef to provide a stable source of protein during long transoceanic voyages.”

Technical