I. ˈjaz, -aa(ə)- verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: origin unknown
transitive verb
1. : to copulate with — usually considered vulgar
2.
a. : to increase the appeal or excitement of : enliven , popularize
the newsman who jazzes a story to sell himself to editor and public — C.K.Streit
— usually used with up
drank bootleg gin to jazz me up — J.D.Hart
b. : to increase the speed of : accelerate
jazz the motor
3. : to play (music) in the manner of jazz : make jazz of
pep up old tunes by jazzing them
intransitive verb
1. : copulate — usually considered vulgar
2. : to go seeking pleasure : gad — used with around
3.
a. : to dance or perform jazz
jazzing to the music of the band
a saxophonist who jazzes at a nightclub
b. : to dance around in a jazzy manner
chairs and tables … jazzing crazily to and fro across the cabin — Shevawn Lynam
II. noun
( -es )
1. : copulation — usually considered vulgar
2.
a. : American music developed from religious and secular songs (as spirituals, shout songs), blues, ragtime, and other popular music (as brass-band marches) and characterized by improvisation, syncopated rhythms, contrapuntal ensemble playing, special melodic features (as flatted notes, blue notes) peculiar to the individual interpretation of the player, and the introduction of vocal techniques (as portamento) into instrumental performance — see bop , dixieland ; compare swing
b. : popular dance music influenced by jazz and played (as in the late 1920s) in a loud rhythmic manner
c. : a dance to jazz music with incisive rhythms and often acrobatic and grotesque steps — compare jitterbug 1
3. : excessively earnest and enthusiastic talk or preoccupation : stuffy foolishness : humbug
spouted all the scientific jazz at him — Pete Martin
III. adjective
Etymology: jazz (II)
1. : of, relating to, or having the characteristics of jazz
jazz music
jazz fans
2. : mottled
the room will be done in jazz colors — Upton Sinclair
IV. noun
: similar but unspecified things : stuff
I love sailing … that wind, and the waves, and all that jazz — John Updike