jazz

[ jaz ]

noun

1. music originating in New Orleans around the beginning of the 20th century and subsequently developing through various increasingly complex styles, generally marked by intricate, propulsive rhythms, polyphonic ensemble playing, improvisatory, virtuosic solos, melodic freedom, and a harmonic idiom ranging from simple diatonicism through chromaticism to atonality.
2. a style of dance music, popular especially in the 1920s, arranged for a large band and marked by some of the features of jazz.
3. dancing or a dance performed to such music, as with violent bodily motions and gestures.
4. Slang. liveliness; spirit; excitement.
5. Slang. insincere, exaggerated, or pretentious talk:

   Don't give me any of that jazz about your great job!

6. Slang. similar or related but unspecified things, activities, etc.:

   He goes for fishing and all that jazz.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of jazz.

verb (used with object)

1. to play (music) in the manner of jazz.
2. Informal.
   1. to excite or enliven.
   2. to accelerate.
3. Slang: Vulgar. to copulate with.

verb (used without object)

1. to dance to jazz music.
2. to play or perform jazz music.
3. Informal. to act or proceed with great energy or liveliness.
4. Slang: Vulgar. to copulate.

verb phrase

1. Informal.
   1. to add liveliness, vigor, or excitement to.
   2. to add ornamentation, color, or extra features to, in order to increase appeal or interest; embellish.
   3. to accelerate.

jazz

/ dʒæz /

noun

1. 1. a kind of music of African-American origin, characterized by syncopated rhythms, solo and group improvisation, and a variety of harmonic idioms and instrumental techniques. It exists in a number of styles Compare blues See also bebop bop 1 Dixieland free hard bop harmolodics mainstream modern jazz New Orleans jazz swing trad
   2. ( as modifier )

      a jazz band

   3. ( in combination )

      a jazzman

2. informal.
   enthusiasm or liveliness
3. slang.
   rigmarole; paraphernalia

   legal papers and all that jazz

4. slang.
   sexual intercourse
5. slang.
   a dance

verb

1. intr to play or dance to jazz music
2. slang.
   to have sexual intercourse with (a person)

jazz

1. A form of American music that grew out of African-Americans' musical traditions at the beginning of the twentieth century. Jazz is generally considered a major contribution of the United States to the world of music. It quickly became a form of dance music, incorporating a “big beat” and solos by individual musicians. For many years, all jazz was improvised and taught orally, and even today jazz solos are often improvised. Over the years, the small groups of the original jazz players evolved into the “Big Bands” (led, for example, by Duke Ellington , Count Basie , and Glenn Miller ), and finally into concert ensembles. Other famous jazz musicians include Louis Armstrong , Benny Goodman , and Ella Fitzgerald .

Derived Forms

• ˈjazzer, noun

Other Words From

• jazzer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of jazz¹

1905–10, Americanism; 1915–20 jazz fordef 5; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of jazz¹

C20: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

He doesn’t tell — but presumably Willie Weeks is among the good guys, as is Hendrix, and Wooten’s real-life cohort, and the visiting faculty at his music camps, who tend, like Wooten, to fall along the jazz-country-virtuoso spectrum.

From Washington Post

During a six-decade career, he won 23 Grammy Awards, more than any other jazz performer.

From Washington Post

That live performance, a tribute to health-care workers on the front lines of the coronavirus crisis, will feature band leader Jon Batiste, countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo, jazz vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant and dancer Ayodele Casel.

From Washington Post

Anderson biked until he was in his mid-80s and enjoyed listening to opera, jazz and symphony music.

From Washington Post

Yet it—like the blues, like jazz, like rock ’n’ roll—is part of who we are and where we’ve been.

From Time

Ragtime, blues, country, jazz, soul, and rock and roll were all pioneered or inspired by black artists.

From The Daily Beast

For the last three decades, he has garnered justifiable praise as one of best pianists in jazz.

From The Daily Beast

I think posterity will enshrine this body of work among the classics of 21st century jazz.

From The Daily Beast

“Sue (Or In a Season of Crime)” brings the rock chameleon into jazz territory, backed up by a horn-heavy jazz big band.

From The Daily Beast

Do you see yourself setting a standard for classical chops in jazz?

From The Daily Beast

The American influence has been felt to such an extent that King Jazz is a universal potentate.

From Project Gutenberg

I heard one stalwart old fellow declare he was going to vote for Jazz.

From Project Gutenberg

He performed the ceremony carelessly enough, and then lounged away whistling the latest jazz melody.

From Project Gutenberg

And almost before you know it, you are playing your favorite pieces—jazz, ballads, classics.

From Project Gutenberg

Besides, she had not forgotten what Danby Force had said: “Things often happen in the mill after a jazz night.”

From Project Gutenberg