jitter
[ jit-er ]
/ ˈdʒɪt ər /
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noun
(the) jitters, nervousness; a feeling of fright or uneasiness: Every time I have to make a speech, I get the jitters.
fluctuations in the image on a television screen or in copy received by facsimile transmission, caused by interference or by momentary failures of synchronization.
verb (used without object)
to behave nervously.
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON “THEIR,” “THERE,” AND “THEY’RE”
Are you aware how often people swap around “their,” “there,” and “they’re”? Prove you have more than a fair grasp over these commonly confused words.
Question 1 of 7
Which one of these commonly confused words can act as an adverb or a pronoun?
Origin of jitter
First recorded 1920–25; variant of chitter “to shiver” (Middle English chiteren ), modification or variant of chatter
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for jitter
British Dictionary definitions for jitter
jitter
/ (ˈdʒɪtə) informal /
verb
(intr) to be anxious or nervous
noun
the jitters nervousness and anxiety
electronics small rapid variations in the amplitude or timing of a waveform arising from fluctuations in the voltage supply, mechanical vibrations, etc
Word Origin for jitter
C20: of unknown origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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