Definition of JAR

jar

Plural: jars

Noun

  • a vessel (usually cylindrical) with a wide mouth and without handles
  • the quantity contained in a jar
    • "he drank a jar of beer"
  • a sudden jarring impact
    • "all the jars and jolts were smoothed out by the shock absorbers"
  • An earthenware container, either with two or no handles, for holding oil, water, wine, etc., or used for burial.
  • A small, approximately cylindrical container, normally made of clay or glass, for holding fruit, preserves, etc., or for ornamental purposes.
  • A container and its contents; as much as fills such a container; a jarful.
  • A pint glass
  • A glass of beer or cider, served by the pint.
  • A clashing or discordant set of sounds, particularly with a quivering or vibrating quality.
  • A quivering or vibrating movement or sensation resulting from something being shaken or struck.
  • A sense of alarm or dismay.
  • The effect of something contradictory or discordant; a clash.
  • A disagreement, a dispute, a quarrel; (uncountable) contention, discord; quarrelling.

Verb

Verb Forms: jarred, jarring, jars

  • To cause a sudden, unpleasant shaking or vibration; to clash.
  • be incompatible; be or come into conflict
  • move or cause to move with a sudden jerky motion
  • shock physically
  • affect in a disagreeable way
    • "This play jarred the audience"
  • place in a cylindrical vessel
    • "jar the jam"
  • To preserve (food) in a jar.
  • To knock, shake, or strike sharply, especially causing a quivering or vibrating movement.
  • To harm or injure by such action.
  • To shock or surprise.
  • To act in disagreement or opposition, to clash, to be at odds with; to interfere; to dispute, to quarrel.
  • To (cause something to) give forth a rudely tremulous or quivering sound; to (cause something to) sound discordantly or harshly.
  • To quiver or vibrate due to being shaken or struck.
  • Of the appearance, form, style, etc., of people and things: to look strangely different; to stand out awkwardly from its surroundings; to be incongruent.

Examples

  • A poorly placed word can JAR an opponent’s confidence in Scrabble, making them play defensively.
  • He hit it with a hammer, hoping he could jar it loose.
  • I think the accident jarred him, as he hasn’t got back in a car since.
  • The clashing notes jarred on my ears.

Origin / Etymology

Inherited from Middle English jarre (“jar”), from Medieval Latin jarra, or from Middle French jarre (“liquid measure”) (from Old French jare; modern French jarre (“earthenware jar”)), or from Spanish jarra, jarro (“jug, pitcher; mug, stein”), all from Arabic جَرَّة (jarra, “earthen receptacle”).
The word is cognate with Italian giara (“jar; crock”), Occitan jarro, Portuguese jarra, jarro (“jug; ewer, pitcher”).
The verb is derived from the noun.

Synonyms

bump around, clash, collide, jarful, jolt, jounce, shake up, shock, bottle, cruse, pot

Scrabble Score: 10

jar: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
jar: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
jar: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 12

jar: valid Words With Friends Word