jet

JET/ˈd͡ʒɛt/

Pluraljets

Verbjets, jetting, jetted

20 meanings of jet

Practice

1
airplanenouncountable
A fast airplane that flies using powerful engines instead of propellers.
Like a balloon that shoots forward when air rushes out the back.
The jet climbed steeply just after takeoff.
Passengers boarded the jet at the gate before noon.
UsageSay a private jet or a jumbo jet.
Similarplane, aircraft
Note
2
pressure streamnouncountable
A narrow, fast stream of liquid or gas that shoots out under pressure.
Like water shooting out of a squirt gun.
A jet of water shot from the broken pipe.
Steam escaped in a thin jet from the valve.
UsageSay a jet of water.
Similarstream, spurt, squirt, spray
3
type of planeadjective
Pushed forward by jet engines that shoot out hot gas, instead of by propellers.
The jet plane crossed the ocean in seven hours.
She boarded a jet aircraft for the first time.
UsageSay jet plane or jet fighter.
4
engine (any vehicle)nouncountable
An engine that moves a vehicle by pushing out a stream of gas or liquid.
Like a balloon that flies forward when you let the air rush out of the back.
The plane has one jet under each wing.
The little boat has no propeller, because a jet at the back pushes it along.
UsageSay jet engine for the engine.
Note
5
flyverbintransitive
To travel somewhere quickly by jet airplane.
Like hopping on a fast plane to reach a faraway place.
They jet to Florida every winter.
She jetted across the country for the meeting.
UsageSay jet off to a place.
Similarfly
6
raven blackadjective
Deep, glossy black, like the darkest possible color.
As dark as a night sky with no stars or moon.
The raven's jet feathers shone in the morning light.
The cat had jet fur and bright green eyes.
UsageMost people say jet-black.
Similarjet-black
Note
7
nozzle (opening)nouncountable
A small opening or nozzle that directs liquid or gas in a narrow stream.
Like the small tip on a hose that makes water shoot out fast.
The gas jet on the stove wouldn't light.
Water sprayed from a tiny jet in the fountain.
UsageSay a gas jet.
Similarnozzle
Note
8
spurt outverbintransitive
To shoot out fast in a thin stream.
Like soda bursting out of a shaken bottle.
Push the button, and the whipped cream will jet out of the can.
Foam jetted out as she shook the bottle.
UsageSay water jets out.
Similarspurt, squirt, gush, spray, shoot
9
hose downverbtransitive
To spray something with liquid from a container.
Like blasting dirt off a path with a garden hose.
The plumber will jet the drain to clear the clog.
The crew jetted the dirty sidewalk with a pressure washer.
UsageSay jet the drain to clean it.
Similarspray, hose
Note

Less common meanings

10
leaveverbslangintransitive
To leave a place, especially in a hurry.
Like saying "I'm out of here" and leaving fast.
I have to jet before the traffic gets bad.
She jetted right after the movie ended.
UsageSay I have to jet when you must leave.
Similarleave, split, bolt, bounce
11
black tonenouncountable or uncountable
A very deep, shiny black, the color of polished jet stone.
Like the dark gray of heavy storm clouds.
The dress was a deep jet that shimmered as she moved.
He chose jet for the trim around the windows.
Similarebony, black
12
black coalnouncountable or uncountable
A hard, black kind of coal that can be polished and used in jewelry.
Like a shiny black stone you can carve into beads.
The brooch was carved from a single piece of polished jet.
Victorian mourners often wore jewelry made of jet.
Note
13
rush aroundverbintransitive
To move around quickly, by running or walking.
Like a bee zipping quickly from flower to flower.
The kids jet around the playground after lunch.
She jetted from room to room getting ready.
UsageSay kids jet around the playground.
Similardash, dart, rush, zip, race
14
set fuel mixverbtransitive
To set how much fuel mixes with the air in an engine's carburetor.
Like turning a tap to let more or less water through.
A good mechanic can jet the carburetor in a few minutes.
They jet the bike's carburetor before every race.
Note
15
noundated
The general direction or main point of what someone is saying.
Similardrift, gist, thrust, tenor
Note
16
extra metalnoundatedcountable
The bit of extra metal on freshly cast printing type, snapped off after it cools.
Like the extra plastic bits left on a toy from the mold, which you snap off before playing.
The boy snapped the jet off each new letter and dropped it in the scrap box.
A rough jet still clung to the bottom of the cast type.
Similarsprue
Note
17
noun
A narrow spray of tiny particles that shoots out when certain matter breaks apart.
18
noun
A math step that replaces a smooth function with a simpler formula near each point.
19
verbobsolete
To walk in a proud, showy way and show off.
Why, lords, and think you not how dangerous It is to jet upon a prince’s right?
c. 1588, William Shakespeare, “The Lamentable Tragedy of Titus Andronicus”Here, jet means to strut proudly and act rudely toward something.
20
verbobsolete
To move with sudden jerks and be shaken about.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of jet apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–5, 7–10, 13–16

From French jet, meaning a spurt or literally a throw. It goes back to Latin iacere, to throw.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

Jet comes from French jet, meaning a spurt or literally a throw. en.wiktionary.org
Jet ultimately derives from Latin iacere, meaning to throw. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 6, 11–12

From Middle English get, from Old French, from Latin gagates, from Greek, named after Gagas, a town and river in Lycia.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 4 facts

Jet derives from Middle English get. en.wiktionary.org
Middle English get derives from Old French, which derives from Latin gagates. en.wiktionary.org
Latin gagates derives from Greek. en.wiktionary.org
The Greek word derives from Gagas, the name of a town and river in Lycia. en.wiktionary.org