jeop·ar·dize also -dise BrE /'dʒepədaɪz|l-ər-/ v [T] to put at risk or in danger: If you're rude to him it may jeopardize your chances of promotion.
jeop·ar·dy /'dʒepədɪl-ər-/ n [U] risk of loss, defeat, harm etc; danger: His foolish behaviour may put his whole future in jeopardy. → see also DOUBLE JEOPARDY
jer-e-mi-ad /,dzerʒ'marəd/ n lit, often derog a long sad-
sounding complaint
Jer·i·cho /'dʒerɪkəʊ/ a city in Israel, north of the DEAD SEA, thought to be the oldest city in the world. According to the Old Testament of the Bible, it was attacked by JOSHUA, the leader of the Israelites, and his army shouted and blew their TRUMPETS so loudly that the walls of the city fell down. In the 1967 ARAB-ISRAELI WAR, Israel took Jericho from Jordan, but in 1994 it became part of the Palestinian National Authority as result of the Middle East PEACE PROCESS.
Jer·e·mi·ah /ˌdʒɛrˈmɑːr/ (6th century BC) in the Jewish and Christian religions, a Hebrew PROPHET who said that Jerusalem would be defeated and that God would become angry with the Jews and punish them. The Book of Jeremiah in the Old Testament of the Bible contains his prophecies (PROPHECY). A PESSIMISTIC person, who always says that bad things are going to happen, is sometimes called a Jeremiah.
jerk¹ /d33:k‖d33:rk/ v 1 [T] to pull suddenly: He jerked the string and the puppet jumped. 2 [‖] to move with jerks: The bus jerked to a stop.
jerk off ohr v [‖T] taboo slang for MASTURBATE
jerk off phr v [l;T] taboo slang for MASTURBATE
jerk² n 1 a short quick pull or (backward) movement: The knife was stuck but she pulled it out with a jerk. | The train stopped with a jerk. → see also PHYSICAL JERKS 2 derog slang, especially AmE a stupid person, especially a man who is insensitive to women: Stop dancing on my feet, you jerk!
jerk $ ^{3} $ adj [A] cooked in a style that comes from Jamaica, which involves covering meat or fish in SPICES and then baking it: jerk chicken
jer·kin /ˈdʒɜːkənl-3:r-/ n a short coat, usually without SLEEVEs, worn especially by men in former times
jerk·y /'dʒɜːkɪl-3:r-/ adj not smooth in movement; with sudden starts and stops: We had a very jerky ride in the back of the old truck. —ily adj —iness n [U]
jer-o-bo-am /,dzerə'bəuəm/ n a very large wine bottle that holds four times the amount of an ordinary wine bottle
Jerome, Jerome K. /dʒəˈrəum/ (1859–1927) a British writer of humorous novels, best known for his book THREE MEN IN A BOAT
Jer•ry¹ /'dzeri/ → see TOM AND JERRY
Jerry² n [C;U] BrE an insulting word for a German, or for German people in general, used especially during World War II
'jerry-built adj derog built quickly, cheaply, and badly: a jerry-built house
Jerry Springer Show /,dzeri 'sprinə ʃəull-nər-/ a television programme made in the US and presented by Jerry SPRINGER. Ordinary members of the public appear on the show before a STUDIO AUDIENCE and say things about themselves or their relationships with their friends, lovers, or families. There are often arguments and sometimes fights.
jer·sey /ˈdʒɜːzɪl-3:r-/ n 1 [C] a woollen garment for the upper part of the body; SWEATER 2 [U] fine usually woollen cloth used especially for women's dresses 3 [C] AmE a soft shirt worn by players of some sports: His name and number are on the back of his jersey.
Jersey n 1 the largest of the Channel Islands, between England and France, which belong to the UK. Jersey is known for its cream and NEW POTAToes and is popular with tourists. 2 a type of brown cow, originally from Jersey, that produces creamy milk 3 AmE an informal name for the US state of New Jersey
Je ru sa lem¹ /dʒʒ/ ru:sเลม/ a city in Israel, which is of great historical importance to Jews, Christians, and Muslims. It has many important places for all these religions, such as the WAILING WALL, the MOUNT OF OLIVES, and the Dome of the Rock, an ancient and very holy Muslim building. Jerusalem is regarded by Israel as its capital city, but many Arab people do not accept this.
Jerusalem² a HYMN (=a song of praise to God) based on a poem by William BLAKE, which English people often sing on PATRIOTIC occasions
Je,rusalem 'artichoke n [C] an ARTICHOKE
Je,rusalem 'Bible, the an English translation of the Bible made by ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOLARS in the 1960s
jest /dʒest/ v [l(with, about)] fml to speak without serious intention; joke: Don't jest with me, young man. | a jesting remark —jest n [C;U] He said it as a jest/said it in jest. —ingly adv
jest•er /'dʒestər/ n a man kept by a ruler in former times to amuse him, tell jokes etc; FOOL
Je•su•it /'dʒezjuʃtǐl'dʒezuʃt, 'dʒezuʃt/ a member of the religious Society of Jesus, a Roman Catholic group of MISSIONARY priests that was started in the 16th century by St IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA. Jesuits are known for their interest in education and knowledge. People sometimes think of Jesuits in connection with the phrase 'Give us a child until it is seven, and it is ours for life', originally said by a Jesuit teacher —Jesuitical /,dʒezju'rtikəlǐl,dʒezu-, ,dʒezu-/ adj
Je•sus¹ /'dʒiːzəs/ also ☀,Jesus 'Christ the man whose life and teachings the Christian religion is based on. According to the New Testament of the Bible, Jesus was born in BETHLEHEM and was the son of God and the Virgin MARY. As a child, he lived in NAZARETH with Mary and her husband JOSEPH, who was a CARPENTER. Jesus gathered 12 followers, called DISCIPLES, who later helped to establish the Christian religion. He travelled around Palestine with them, teaching people and performing MIRACLES, such as curing people who were ill and changing water into wine. The Roman authorities, however, became worried that Jesus was getting too powerful, so they made him a prisoner and decided to CRUCIFY him. They attached him to a large wooden CROSS using nails, and left him hanging there until he died. Christians believe that Jesus died so that other people would not have to be punished for their SINs, and that the RESURRECTION happened three days after Jesus's death, when he came alive again and spoke to his disciples, and then went up to heaven. → see also CHRISTIANITY, NATIVITY
Jesus² interj infml used to express great anger or surprise
Some people, especially those who believe in the Christian religion, are offended by the use of Jesus and Christ as interjections. God is more commonly used and is not felt to be so strong, but some people do not like this use either.
,Jesus, Christ 'Superstar a MUSICAL (=a play that uses singing and dancing to tell a story) by Andrew LLOYD WEBBER and Tim Rice about the life of JESUS. It was made into a film in 1973.
'Jesus freak n old-fash infml a HIPPIE, especially during the 1960s and 1970s, who was also a member of a Christian group
CULTURAL NOTE The typical Jesus freak is sometimes thought of as a young man with long hair and a BEARD, wearing loose clothes and SANDALS.
'Jesus ,movement, the a Christian movement which began in the 1970s and consisted of especially young people who had rejected the practice of most of the established Christian churches and believed in spreading the teachings of Jesus by talking about them a lot
jet¹ /dʒet/ n 1 an aircraft with a JET ENGINE: Enemy jets attacked our positions. | travelling by jet | a jet aircraft 2 [(of)] a fast narrow stream of liquid, gas etc, coming out of a small hole: The firemen directed jets of water at the burning building. 3 a narrow opening from which this is forced out: Put a match to the gas jet to light the gas.
jet² v -tt- 1 [I+adv/prep;T (OUT)] to come or send out of a small opening in a fast narrow stream: Water jetted from the pipe/jetted out. | The flamethrower jetted (out) flames. 2 [I+adv/prep] infml to travel by jet aircraft: jetting around the world
jet $ ^{3} $ n [U] a hard black material used, when polished, for making small decorative objects and jewellery
jet-'black adj deep black