I. ˈjȯint dial ˈjīnt noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English joint, jointe, partly from Old French jointe joint of the body, from feminine of joint, past participle of joindre to join; partly from Middle French joint joint (place where two parts meet), from past participle of joindre — more at join
1.
a.
(1) : the point of contact between elements of an animal skeleton (as femur and hipbone) whether movable or rigidly fixed together with the parts (as membranes, tendons, ligaments) that surround and support it
the capsule of the shoulder joint
the antennal joints of a cockroach
(2) : such a structure regarded as a particular type of mechanism
the ball-and-socket joint of the hip
(3) : node 4a
the joints of a stem of grass
b. : a part or space included between two articulations, knots, or nodes
the first joint of the arm
a joint of cane
c. : a large piece of meat for roasting
2.
a. : a place where two things or parts are joined or united : a union of two or more smooth or even surfaces admitting of a close fitting or junction whether movable or immovable : junction
a joint between two pieces of timber
a joint in a pipe
b. : a space between the adjacent surfaces of two bodies (as bricks) joined and held together by means of cement, mortar, or other material
a thin joint
c. : a fracture or crack in rock not accompanied by dislocation being generally one of many arranged in a systematic pattern, occurring in all firm coherent rocks, and dividing them into blocks
d. : the flexing portion of a cover along either backbone edge of a book ; also : the groove where the cover hinges — called also hinge
e. : the junction of two or more members of a framed structure
f. : a union formed by two abutting rails in a track including the bars, bolts, and other elements necessary to hold the abutting rails together
g. : an area at which two ends, surfaces, or edges are attached (as by adhesive, tape, nails, or staples)
3.
a.
(1) : a shabby or disreputable place of entertainment or other public house
make a tour of the tough joints — W.S.Maugham
I wouldn't go there; that place is a joint
(2) : a place (as a nightclub, restaurant, or hotel) open to the public
I'll have you know this is a respectable joint — William Grampp
it depended on the social tone of the joint — Scott Fitzgerald
(3) : place , establishment , dwelling
there now are buffaloes all over the joint — R.M.Yoder
this is certainly an intellectual joint — Sinclair Lewis
come on over to my joint
b. slang : a concession stand at a circus or fair
c. slang
(1) : a marijuana cigarette
(2) : a hypodermic needle ; also : the needle, dropper, and connection used in taking drugs hypodermically
•
- out of joint
II. adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from past participle of joindre — more at join
1. : joined , united , combined
subjected to the joint influences of culture and climate
2. : common to two or more: as
a.
(1) : involving the united activity of two or more : done or produced by two or more working together
issued a joint report
achieved through our joint efforts
(2) : constituting an activity, operation, or organization in which elements of more than one armed service participate
the Joint Chiefs of Staff
(3) : constituting an action or expression in which two or more governments unite as distinguished from an identic action or expression
a joint intervention
a joint note
b.
(1) : shared by or affecting two or more : held or obligating or obligated in common
joint property
a joint fine
(2) : united in right, status, interest, power, privilege, duty, or obligation
(3) : of or relating to the right of survivorship in property held in joint tenancy or by the entirety as distinguished from that held as tenants in common — compare correal , joint and several , several , solidarity
3. : united, jointed, or sharing with another (as in a right, obligation, status, or activity) : not solitary in interest or action : holding in common with an associate : acting together
joint heir
joint creditor
4. : of or relating to a joint family
III. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: joint (I)
transitive verb
1.
a. obsolete : join , unite , combine
jointing their force — Shakespeare
b. : to unite by a joint : fit together
joint boards
her elbows and shoulders are jointed wrong — Irish Digest
c. : to provide with a joint : articulate
d. : to prepare (as a board) for joining by planing the edge to be joined
e. : to file down (saw teeth) to a correct height
2. : to separate the joints of : divide at the joint : cut up into joints
lamb should present little difficulty if thoroughly jointed beforehand — Noreen Routledge
intransitive verb
1. : to fit as if by joints : coalesce as joints do
the stones joint neatly
2. : to form joints as a stage in growth (as of winter wheat and other small grains)
IV. noun
1. slang : prison
2. : penis — usually considered vulgar
V. adjective
: being a function of or involving two or more variables and especially random variables
a joint probability density function