jerky

2 syllables · also jerkier, jerkiest

Quick answer

As an adjective, jerky means characterized by physical jerking. As a noun, it means lean meat cured and preserved by cutting into thin strips and air-drying in the sun.

Meanings of jerky

8 meanings

adjective

Characterized by physical jerking.
Having the behavior of a jerk (unpleasant person).
Lacking a steady rhythm
“an arrhythmic heartbeat”
Similar: arrhythmic, jerking
Marked by abrupt transitions
“choppy prose”
Similar: choppy
Having or revealing stupidity
“ridiculous anserine behavior”
“a dopey answer”
“a dopey kid”
Similar: anserine, dopy, dopey, foolish, goosey, goosy

noun

Lean meat cured and preserved by cutting into thin strips and air-drying in the sun.
Meat (especially beef) cut in strips and dried in the sunfood
Similar: jerked meat, jerk