jerk

/d‍ʒˈɜːk/

/ˈdʒɝk/

Jerk

meat (especially beef) cut in strips and dried in the sun

a dance style characterized by sharp, exaggerated movements of the arms, shoulders, and legs, often performed to hip hop or electronic music

a dull stupid fatuous person

synonyms : dork

an abrupt spasmodic movement

synonyms : jerking

a sudden abrupt pull

synonyms : tug

raising a weight from shoulder height to above the head by straightening the arms

(mechanics) the rate of change of acceleration

to jerk

MAIN VERB

pull, or move with a sudden movement

synonyms : yank

move with abrupt, seemingly uncontrolled motions

synonyms : twitch

make an uncontrolled, short, jerky motion

synonyms : twitch

throw or toss with a quick motion

synonyms : flick

jump vertically, with legs stiff and back arched

synonyms : buck

Examples

1. We're being jerked around, and I don't like it.

2. Can't you just have a normal conversation without trying to be a jerk?

3. The man was such a bleeding-heart knee-jerk liberal that you could predict the rest of the column after reading the first sentence.

4. The driver jerked his thumb behind them.