jazz

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a style of dance music popular in the 1920s

   similar to New Orleans jazz but played by large bands

2. 2
   noun

   A musical art form rooted in West African cultural and musical expression and in the African American blues tradition, with diverse influences over time, commonly characterized by blue notes, syncopation, swing, call and response, polyrhythms and improvisation.

   You dare to bring your jazz songs into my house!

3. 3
   noun

   Energy, excitement, excitability.

   “You want something zippy there. Something with a bit of jazz to it!”

4. 4
   noun

   The substance or makeup of a thing; unspecified thing(s).

   and all that jazz

5. 5
   noun

   Something of excellent quality, the genuine article.

   That show was the jazz!

6. 6
   noun

   Nonsense.

   Stop talking jazz.

7. 7
   noun

   Semen, jizz.

   Suddenly, Bobby oozed his jazz into Gene's throat.

8. 8
   verb

   To destroy; to ruin.

   You’ve gone and jazzed it now!

Etymology

Unknown. First attested around 1912 in a discussion of baseball; attested in reference to music around 1915. Numerous references suggest that the term may be connected to jasm and jism.