Definition jar
Etymology 1
From Middle English jarre (“jar”), from Medieval Latin jarra, or from Middle French jarre (“liquid measure”) (from Old French jare; modern French jarre (“earthenware jar”)), or from Spanish jarra, jarro (“jug, pitcher; mug, stein”), all from Arabic جَرَّة (jarra, “earthen receptacle”). The word is cognate with Italian giara (“jar; crock”), Occitan jarro, Portuguese jarra, jarro (“jug; ewer, pitcher”).
The verb is derived from the noun.
Noun
jar (plural jars)
- (originally) An earthenware container, either with two or no handles, for holding oil, water, wine, etc., or used for burial. [from late 16th c.]
- A small, approximately cylindrical container, normally made of clay or glass, for holding fruit, preserves, etc., or for ornamental purposes.
- A jar and its contents; as much as fills such a container; a jarful.
Verb
jar (third-person singular simple present jars, present participle jarring, simple past and past participle jarred)
- (transitive) To preserve (food) in a jar.
Etymology 2
Perhaps imitative; the noun is derived from the verb.
Noun
jar (countable and uncountable, plural jars)
- (countable) A clashing or discordant set of sounds, particularly with a quivering or vibrating quality.
- (countable, also figuratively) A quivering or vibrating movement or sensation resulting from something being shaken or struck.
- (countable, by extension) A sense of alarm or dismay.
- (countable, now rare) A disagreement, a dispute, a quarrel; (uncountable) contention, discord; quarrelling.
Verb
jar (third-person singular simple present jars, present participle jarring, simple past and past participle jarred)
- (transitive) To knock, shake, or strike sharply, especially causing a quivering or vibrating movement.
- (transitive) To harm or injure by such action.
- (transitive, figuratively) To shock or surprise.
- (transitive, figuratively) To act in disagreement or opposition, to clash, to be at odds with; to interfere; to dispute, to quarrel.
- (transitive, intransitive) To (cause something to) give forth a rudely tremulous or quivering sound; to (cause something to) sound discordantly or harshly.
- (intransitive) To quiver or vibrate due to being shaken or struck.
- (intransitive, figuratively) Of the appearance, form, style, etc., of people and things: to look strangely different; to stand out awkwardly from its surroundings; to be incongruent.