[jazz] n, often attrib [origin unknown] (1913) 1 a: American music developed esp. from ragtime and blues and characterized by propulsive syncopated rhythms, polyphonic ensemble playing, varying degrees of improvisation, and often deliberate distortions of pitch and timbre b: popular dance music influenced by jazz and played in a loud rhythmic manner
2: empty talk: humbug "spouted all the scientific ~ --Pete Martin"
3: similar but unspecified things: stuff "that wind, and the waves, and all that ~ --John Updike" -- jazz.like adj
[2]jazz vt (1917) 1 a: enliven--usu. used with up b: accelerate
2: to play in the manner of jazz ~ vi 1: to go here and there: gad
2: to dance to or play jazz