Wordsmith.org: the magic of words


A.Word.A.Day

About | Media | Search | Contact  


Home

Today's Word

Yesterday's Word

Archives

FAQ



Aug 24, 2012
This week's theme
Slang

This week's words
wiseacre
naff
suss
lulu
jazz

This week's comments
AWADmail 530

Next week's theme
Usage examples that are food for thought
Discuss
Feedback
RSS/XML
Bookmark and Share Facebook Twitter Digg MySpace Bookmark and Share
A.Word.A.Day
with Anu Garg

jazz

PRONUNCIATION:
(jaz)

MEANING:
noun:
1. A style of music characterized by improvisation.
2. Etcetera (in the phrase: and all that jazz).
3. Nonsense.

verb tr.:
1. To enliven (in the phrase: to jazz up).
2. To exaggerate or lie.

ETYMOLOGY:
Of undetermined origin, perhaps a variant of slang jasm (energy, vigor). Earliest documented use: 1912.

USAGE:
"They had energy and passion and all that jazz."
Many Phases Later; The Irish Times (Dublin); Dec 10, 2011.

"Don't give me any of that jazz about hope or nonsense about righteousness."
Bob Dylan; Chronicles: Volume 1; Simon & Schuster; 2004.

"With so much stress at work, what can we do to jazz up our mood."
Misha Paul; Jazz Up Your Work Station; The Times of India (New Delhi); Aug 8, 2011.

See more usage examples of jazz in Vocabulary.com's dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Don't be yourself. Be someone a little nicer. -Mignon McLaughlin, journalist and author (1913-1983)

We need your help

Help us continue to spread the magic of words to readers everywhere

Donate

Subscriber Services
Awards | Stats | Links | Privacy Policy
Contribute | Advertise

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith