- jack
- jack1 [dʒæk] n[Date: 1300-1400; Origin: From the man's name Jack]1.) a piece of equipment used to lift a heavy weight off the ground, such as a car, and support it while it is in the air▪ a hydraulic jack2.) a card used in card games that has a man's picture on it and is worth less than a queen and more than a tenjack of hearts/clubs etc▪ a pair of jacks3.) an electronic connection for a telephone or other electric machine▪ a phone jack4.) a) jacks [plural]a children's game in which the players try to pick up small objects called jacks while ↑bouncing and catching a ballb) a small metal or plastic object that has six points, used in this game5.) a small white ball at which players aim larger balls in the game of ↑bowls6.) jack (shit)AmE spoken not polite a rude expression meaning anything at all▪ He doesn't know jack shit about cars.jack 2jack2 vjack around [jack sb around] phr vAmE spoken to waste someone's time by deliberately making things difficult for them▪ Stop jacking me around and make up your mind!jack in [jack sth<=>in] phr vBrE informal to stop doing something▪ I'd love to jack in my job and go and live in the Bahamas.jack off phr vAmE informal not polite to ↑masturbatejack up [jack sth<=>up] phr v1.) to lift something heavy off the ground using a jack▪ Jack the car up higher - I can't get the tire off.2.) informal to increase prices, sales etc by a large amount▪ They're just interested in jacking up their profit margins.
Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.