2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] You can describe a complicated situation as a jigsaw . □ …the jigsaw of high-level diplomacy.
ji|had /dʒihæ d, [AM ] -hɑː d/ N‑SING A jihad is a holy war which Islam allows Muslims to fight against those who reject its teachings.
jilt /dʒ I lt/ (jilts , jilting , jilted ) VERB If someone is jilted , the person they are having a romantic relationship with suddenly ends the relationship in a surprising and upsetting way. [INFORMAL ] □ [be V -ed] She was jilted by her first fiancé. □ [V n] Driven to distraction, he murdered the woman who jilted him. [Also V n]
jin|gle /dʒ I ŋg ə l/ (jingles , jingling , jingled )
1 VERB When something jingles or when you jingle it, it makes a gentle ringing noise, like small bells. □ [V n] Brian put his hands in his pockets and jingled some change. □ [V ] Her bracelets jingled like bells. ● N‑SING Jingle is also a noun. □ [+ of ] …the jingle of money in a man's pocket.
2 N‑COUNT A jingle is a short, simple tune, often with words, which is used to advertise a product or programme on radio or television. □ …advertising jingles.
jin|go|ism /dʒ I ŋgoʊ I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Jingoism is a strong and unreasonable belief in the superiority of your own country. [DISAPPROVAL ]
jin|go|is|tic /dʒ I ŋgoʊ I st I k/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Jingoistic behaviour shows a strong and unreasonable belief in the superiority of your own country. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ The press continued its jingoistic display.
jink /dʒ I ŋk/ (jinks , jinking , jinked )
1 VERB To jink somewhere means to move there quickly in an irregular way, rather than by moving in a straight line. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ [V adv/prep] As they reached the start-finish line Prost jinked right and drew abreast. [Also V ]
2 → see also high jinks
jinx /dʒ I ŋks/ (jinxes ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] You can call something or someone that is considered to be unlucky or to bring bad luck a jinx . □ He was beginning to think he was a jinx.
jinxed /dʒ I ŋkst/ ADJ If something is jinxed , it is considered to be unlucky or to bring bad luck.
jit|ters /dʒ I tə r z/ N‑PLURAL If you have the jitters , you feel extremely nervous, for example because you have to do something important or because you are expecting important news. [INFORMAL ] □ Officials feared that any public announcements would only increase market jitters.
jit|tery /dʒ I təri/ ADJ If someone is jittery , they feel nervous or are behaving nervously. [INFORMAL ] □ [+ about ] International investors have become jittery about the country's economy.
jive /dʒa I v/ (jives , jiving , jived )
1 VERB If you jive , you dance energetically, especially to rock and roll or swing music. [INFORMAL ] □ [V ] I learnt to jive there when they got the jukebox.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Jive is rock and roll or swing music that you jive to.
Jnr in AM, use Jr. Jnr is a written abbreviation for junior . It is used after a man's name to distinguish him from an older member of his family with the same name. [BRIT ]
job ◆◆◆ /dʒɒ b/ (jobs )
1 N‑COUNT A job is the work that someone does to earn money. □ Once I'm in America I can get a job. □ Thousands have lost their jobs. □ I felt the pressure of being the first woman in the job. □ …overseas job vacancies.
2 N‑COUNT [n N ] A job is a particular task. □ [+ of ] He said he hoped that the job of putting together a coalition wouldn't take too much time.
3 N‑COUNT [usu with poss] The job of a particular person or thing is their duty or function. □ Their main job is to preserve health rather than treat illness. □ Drinking a lot helps the kidneys do their job.
4 N‑SING [usu adj N ] If you say that someone is doing a good job , you mean that they are doing something well. In British English, you can also say that they are making a good job of something. □ [+ of ] We could do a far better job of managing it than they have.
5 N‑SING [usu N -ing, N to-inf] If you say that you have a job doing something, you are emphasizing how difficult it is. [EMPHASIS ] □ He may have a hard job selling that argument to investors.
6 → see also day job , hatchet job , jobbing , on-the-job
7 PHRASE If you refer to work as jobs for the boys , you mean that the work is unfairly given to someone's friends, supporters, or relations, even though they may not be the best qualified people to do it. [BRIT , DISAPPROVAL ]
8 PHRASE If you say that something is just the job , you mean that it is exactly what you wanted or needed. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ [+ for ] Not only is it just the job for travelling, but it's handy for groceries too.
9 PHRASE If someone is on the job , they are actually doing a particular job or task. □ The top pay scale after five years on the job would reach $5.00 an hour.
10 it's a good job → see good
11 the job in hand → see hand ➊
job|bing /dʒɒ b I ŋ/ ADJ [ADJ n] A jobbing worker does not work for someone on a regular basis, but does particular jobs when they are asked to. [BRIT ] □ …a jobbing builder.
jo b cen|tre (job centres ) also Jobcentre N‑COUNT In Britain, a job centre is a place where people who are looking for work can go to get advice on finding a job, and to look at advertisements placed by people who are looking for new employees.