ENGLISH
REFERENCE

joint

n. · adj. · v.
US //ˈdʒɔɪnt// UK //dʒˈɔɪnt// joint
  1. 1 body part (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Medicine

    a place in your body where two bones meet, like your knee or elbow.

    the anatomical point of connection between two bones, typically allowing for movement.

    Example

    He felt a sharp pain in his knee joint after running for an hour.

    Example

    As patients age, the cartilage within the weight-bearing joints can begin to wear down, leading to chronic inflammation and reduced mobility.

  2. 2 structural connection (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a place where two parts of a structure are joined together.

    a point at which two or more distinct components of a structure are joined, whether rigidly or to allow movement.

    Example

    The plumber checked every joint in the pipes to find the leak.

    Example

    The architect specified reinforced steel joints to ensure the bridge could withstand the lateral forces of high-altitude winds.

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  1. 3 informal place (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal American English

    a casual place where people go to eat, drink, or hang out.

    an establishment, such as a restaurant or bar, often implying a casual or slightly disreputable atmosphere.

    Example

    We found a great burger joint just around the corner from the hotel.

    Example

    Despite its unassuming exterior, the local jazz joint attracted some of the most talented musicians in the city every Tuesday night.

  2. 4 cannabis cigarette (n.)
    C1 Advanced Slang

    a cigarette containing the drug marijuana.

    a hand-rolled cigarette containing cannabis.

    Example

    The police officer warned the teenagers after finding a joint in the car.

    Example

    The film's protagonist is often seen rolling a joint while contemplating his increasingly complicated life in the city.

    • spliff
    • reefer
  3. 5 cut of meat (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate British English Cooking

    a large piece of meat that is ready to be cooked.

    a large portion of meat, often including a bone, prepared for roasting.

    Example

    She put the joint of beef in the oven for the Sunday lunch.

    Example

    The butcher recommended a shoulder joint, noting that the marbled fat would keep the meat tender during the long roasting process.

  4. 6 shared (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    done by two or more people or groups together.

    belonging to or shared by two or more people or entities; involving collective action.

    Example

    The two companies issued a joint statement about the new project.

    Example

    The research was a joint venture between the university and a private laboratory, combining academic rigour with commercial resources.

  5. 7 to connect or cut (v.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical

    to join things together or to cut meat into pieces at the bone.

    to fit together with joints or to divide a carcass into portions at the articulations.

    Example

    The carpenter carefully jointed the wood to make a sturdy table.

    Example

    The chef demonstrated how to joint a chicken with precision, ensuring each piece was separated cleanly at the natural articulation.

Etymology 1

The noun is from Middle English joynt (attested since the late 13th century), from Old French joint (“joint of the body”) (attested since the 12th century). The adjective (attested since the 15th century) is from Old French jointiz. Both Old French words are from Latin iūnctus, the past participle of iungō. See also join, jugular, junction. Partially displaced English lith. The meaning of "building, establishment", especially in connection with shady activities, appeared in Anglo-Irish by 1821 and entered general American English slang by 1877, especially in the sense of "opium den". The sense "marijuana cigarette" is attested since 1935. The development to meaning "any thing" also happened to the Scots and Memphian form junt and the Mid-Atlantic/Philadelphian form jawn.

Etymology 2

From Middle English or following the -t model for forming a past participle.

Word family
Idioms3 entries

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