Jerk

Wednesday 2^nd November 2016

Jerk - /dʒəːk/

Noun  

1.    A quick, sharp, sudden movement.

2.    A spasmodic muscular twitch.

3.    Weightlifting The raising of a barbell above the head from shoulder level by an abrupt straightening of the arms and legs, typically as the second part of a clean and jerk.

4.    informal A contemptibly foolish person.

Verb

[With adverbial of direction] Move or cause to move with a jerk.

[No object] ‘The van jerked forward’

[With object] ‘She jerked her chin up’

Figurative ‘the thud jerked her back to reality’

Weightlifting [with object] Raise (a weight) from shoulder level to above the head.

Example sentences

Noun

‘He gave a sudden jerk of his head’

‘You may have muscle jerks or pins and needles in one arm or leg’

‘Begin your sessions with exercises like deadlifts, squats, clean and jerks, and bench presses’

‘He’s got to be the biggest jerk in the whole world’

Origin

Mid 16th century (denoting a stroke with a whip): probably imitative.

Thanks to: www.oxforddictionaries.com