jack

[ jak ]

/ dʒæk /

noun

any of various portable devices for raising or lifting heavy objects short heights, using various mechanical, pneumatic, or hydraulic methods.

Also called knave. Cards. a playing card bearing the picture of a soldier or servant.

Electricity. a connecting device in an electrical circuit designed for the insertion of a plug.

(initial capital letter) Informal. fellow; buddy; man (usually used in addressing a stranger): Hey, Jack, which way to Jersey?

Also called jackstone. Games.

one of a set of small metal objects having six prongs, used in the game of jacks.
one of any other set of objects, as pebbles, stones, etc., used in the game of jacks.
jacks,(used with a singular verb) a children's game in which small metal objects, stones, pebbles, or the like, are tossed, caught, and moved on the ground in a number of prescribed ways, usually while bouncing a rubber ball.

any of several carangid fishes, especially of the genus Caranx, as C. hippos (crevalle jack or jack crevalle), of the western Atlantic Ocean.

Slang. money: He won a lot of jack at the races.

Slang: Vulgar. jack shit.

Nautical.

a small flag flown at the jack staff of a ship, bearing a distinctive design usually symbolizing the nationality of the vessel.
Also called jack crosstree. either of a pair of crosstrees at the head of a topgallant mast, used to hold royal shrouds away from the mast.

(initial capital letter) a sailor.

a lumberjack.

applejack.

jack rabbit.

a jackass.

jacklight.

a device for turning a spit.

a small wooden rod in the mechanism of a harpsichord, spinet, or virginal that rises when the key is depressed and causes the attached plectrum to strike the string.

Lawn Bowling. a small, usually white bowl or ball used as a mark for the bowlers to aim at.

Also called clock jack. Horology. a mechanical figure that strikes a clock bell.

a premigratory young male salmon.

Theater. brace jack.

Falconry. the male of a kestrel, hobby, or especially of a merlin.

verb (used with object)

to lift or move (something) with or as if with a jack (usually followed by up): to jack a car up to change a flat tire.

Informal. to increase, raise, or accelerate (prices, wages, speed, etc.) (usually followed by up).

Informal. to boost the morale of; encourage (usually followed by up).

Slang. to mess up, ruin, or injure (usually followed by up): The paint job was all jacked up.I jacked my shoulder when I fell.

to jacklight.

verb (used without object)

to jacklight.

adjective

Carpentry. having a height or length less than that of most of the others in a structure; cripple: jack rafter; jack truss.

Verb Phrases

jack off, Slang: Vulgar. to masturbate.

QUIZZES

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How well do you know your adjectives from your adverbs? Your preposition from your pronouns? Your interjections from your conjunctions? Let’s put your knowledge of parts of speech to the text! Note: Many of the following questions will ask you to identify the parts of speech “in order.” That means the first word in all capital letters will correspond to the first option in an answer, and so on.

Question 1 of 10

In order, what parts of speech are the words in all capital letters? Alisa was VERY tired, SO she decided to go to bed.

adverb, adverb

adverb, conjunction

adjective, conjunction

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms for jack

every man jack, everyone without exception: They presented a formidable opposition, every man jack of them.

Origin of jack

1350–1400; Middle English jakke, Jakke used in addressing any male, especially a social inferior, variant of Jakken, variant of Jankin, equivalent to Jan John + -kin -kin; extended in sense to anything male, and as a designation for a variety of inanimate objects

Words nearby jack

jacaranda, jacareí, jacarta, jacaré, jacinth, jack, jack arch, jack bean, jack block, jack chain, jack crevalle

Definition for jack (2 of 9)

jack²

[ jak ]

/ dʒæk /

verb (used with object) Slang.

to steal: Some neighborhood kids jacked her car and took it for a joyride.Hackers jacked my email account in a phishing scam.

to rob: He got jacked on his way home from the club.

Origin of jack

First recorded in 1930–35; shortening of hijack

Definition for jack (3 of 9)

jack³

[ jak ]

/ dʒæk /

noun

jackfruit.

Origin of jack

1605–15; < Portuguese jaca < Malayalam cakka

Definition for jack (4 of 9)

jack⁴

[ jak ]

/ dʒæk /

noun

a defensive coat, usually of leather, worn in medieval times by foot soldiers and others.

a container for liquor, originally of waxed leather coated with tar.

Origin of jack

⁴

1325–75; Middle English jakke < Middle French jaque(s), jacket, short, plain upper garment, probably after jacques peasant (see Jacquerie)

Definition for jack (5 of 9)

Jack

[ jak ]

/ dʒæk /

noun

a male given name, form of Jacob or John.

Definition for jack (6 of 9)

Lynch

[ linch ]

/ lɪntʃ /

noun

JohnJack,1917–1999, Irish political leader: prime minister 1966–73, 1977–79.

Definition for jack (7 of 9)

Schmitt

[ shmit ]

/ ʃmɪt /

noun

Ber·na·dotte Ev·er·ly

[bur-nuh-dot ev-er-lee] /ˈbɜr nəˌdɒt ˈɛv ər li/,1886–1969, U.S. historian.

Harrison (Ha·gan)

[hey-guh n] /ˈheɪ gən/, Jack,born 1935, U.S. astronaut, geologist, and politician: U.S. senator 1977–83.

Definition for jack (8 of 9)

Teagarden

[ tee-gahr-dn ]

/ ˈtiˌgɑr dn /

noun

Wel·don John

[wel-dn] /ˈwɛl dn/, Jack,1905–64, U.S. jazz trombonist and singer.

Definition for jack (9 of 9)

Brabham

[ brab-uh m ]

/ ˈbræb əm /

noun

Sir John ArthurJack,1926–2014, Australian racing-car driver and designer.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for jack

Starting in the 1970s, then MPAA president Jack Valenti began what was to become a decades-long fight against the quota system.
Propaganda, Protest, and Poisonous Vipers: The Cinema War in Korea|Rich Goldstein|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Heinold's First and Last Chance, Oakland (Jack London, Taft) You can thank Johnny Heinold for your favorite Jack London book.
The Bars That Made America Great|Nina Strochlic|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But not even the threat of death can suppress the urge to live vicariously through Jack Dawson and James Bond.
North Korea’s Secret Movie Bootleggers: How Western Films Make It Into the Hermit Kingdom|Lizzie Crocker|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Like a Jack in the Box just sprung from coiled captivity, he begins rambling excitedly.
Rob Marshall Defends ‘Into the Woods’|Kevin Fallon|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Jack Conte of the band Pomplamoose breaks down what it costs to hit the road.
How Much Money Does a Band Really Make on Tour?|Jack Conte|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Bill was anxious to get back to poor Jack, who he remembered was well-nigh starving.
From Powder Monkey to Admiral|W.H.G. Kingston
Jack took off his clothes quickly, but though he was weary he could not go to sleep.
The Blue Fairy Book|Various
With intense relief we saw Jack hauled on board over the stern; but papa was still in the water.
A Yacht Voyage Round England|W.H.G. Kingston
They had almost reached the middle of it when Jack looked down.
Childhood's Favorites and Fairy Stories|Various
All of which information, useful in a way, no doubt, was accepted by Jack with a smile.
The Golf Course Mystery|Chester K. Steele

British Dictionary definitions for jack (1 of 7)

jack¹

/ (dʒæk) /

noun

a man or fellow

a sailor

the male of certain animals, esp of the ass or donkey

a mechanical or hydraulic device for exerting a large force, esp to raise a heavy weight such as a motor vehicle

any of several mechanical devices that replace manpower, such as a contrivance for rotating meat on a spit

one of four playing cards in a pack, one for each suit, bearing the picture of a young prince; knave

bowls a small usually white bowl at which the players aim with their own bowls

electrical engineering a female socket with two or more terminals designed to receive a male plug (jack plug) that either makes or breaks the circuit or circuits

a flag, esp a small flag flown at the bow of a ship indicating the ship's nationalityCompare Union Jack

nautical either of a pair of crosstrees at the head of a topgallant mast used as standoffs for the royal shrouds

a part of the action of a harpsichord, consisting of a fork-shaped device on the end of a pivoted lever on which a plectrum is mounted

any of various tropical and subtropical carangid fishes, esp those of the genus Caranx, such as C. hippos (crevalle jack)

Also called: jackstone one of the pieces used in the game of jacks

short for applejack, bootjack, jackass, jackfish, jack rabbit, lumberjack

US a slang word for money

every man jack everyone without exception

the jack Australian slang venereal disease

adjective

jack of Australian slang tired or fed up with (something)

verb (tr)

to lift or push (an object) with a jack

electrical engineering to connect (an electronic device) with another by means of a jack and a jack plug

Also: jacklight US and Canadian to hunt (fish or game) by seeking them out or dazzling them with a flashlight

Word Origin for jack

C16 jakke, variant of Jankin, diminutive of John

British Dictionary definitions for jack (2 of 7)

jack²

jak

/ (dʒæk) /

noun

short for jackfruit

Word Origin for jack

C17: from Portuguese jaca; see jackfruit

British Dictionary definitions for jack (3 of 7)

jack³

/ (dʒæk) /

noun

a short sleeveless coat of armour of the Middle Ages, consisting usually of a canvas base with metal plates

archaic a drinking vessel, often of leather

Word Origin for jack

C14: from Old French jaque, of uncertain origin

British Dictionary definitions for jack (4 of 7)

Jack

/ (dʒæk) /

noun

I'm all right, Jack British informal

a remark indicating smug and complacent selfishness
(as modifier)an ``I'm all right, Jack'' attitude

British Dictionary definitions for jack (5 of 7)

Brabham

/ (ˈbræbəm) /

noun

Sir John Arthur, known as Jack . born 1926, Australian motor-racing driver: Formula One world champion 1959, 1960, and 1966

British Dictionary definitions for jack (6 of 7)

lynch

/ (lɪntʃ) /

verb

(tr) (of a mob) to punish (a person) for some supposed offence by hanging without a trial

Derived forms of lynch

lyncher, nounlynching, noun

Word Origin for lynch

probably after Charles Lynch (1736–96), Virginia justice of the peace, who presided over extralegal trials of Tories during the American War of Independence

British Dictionary definitions for jack (7 of 7)

Lynch

/ (lɪntʃ) /

noun

David. born 1946, US film director; his work includes the films Eraserhead (1977), Blue Velvet (1986), Wild at Heart (1990), Mulholland Drive (2001), and Inland Empire (2006), and the television series Twin Peaks (1990)

John, known as Jack Lynch. 1917–99, Irish statesman; prime minister of the Republic of Ireland (1966–73; 1977–79)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with jack

jack

In addition to the idioms beginning with jack

jack off
jack up

also see:

before you can say Jack Robinson

jack

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

adjective

Verb Phrases

QUIZZES

CHALLENGE YOURSELF WITH THIS MIDDLE SCHOOL PART OF SPEECH QUIZ!

Idioms for jack

Origin of jack

Words nearby jack

Definition for jack (2 of 9)

verb (used with object) Slang.

Origin of jack

Definition for jack (3 of 9)

noun

Origin of jack

Definition for jack (4 of 9)

noun

Origin of jack

Definition for jack (5 of 9)

noun

Definition for jack (6 of 9)

noun

Definition for jack (7 of 9)

noun

Definition for jack (8 of 9)

noun

Definition for jack (9 of 9)

noun

Words related to jack

Example sentences from the Web for jack

British Dictionary definitions for jack (1 of 7)

noun

adjective

verb (tr)

Word Origin for jack

British Dictionary definitions for jack (2 of 7)

jak

noun

Word Origin for jack

British Dictionary definitions for jack (3 of 7)

noun

Word Origin for jack

British Dictionary definitions for jack (4 of 7)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for jack (5 of 7)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for jack (6 of 7)

verb

Derived forms of lynch

Word Origin for lynch

British Dictionary definitions for jack (7 of 7)

noun

Idioms and Phrases with jack