WordGarden.iojitter
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /dʒˈɪtə/
US
- /ˈd͡ʒɪtər/countableuncountablenoun
Meanings
Noun
nervous unease or shaky anxiety
irregular variation in signal or network timing
Verb
to shake or move in small quick jerks
Beyond the definition
The "jitters" aren't just about shaking. They are that restless, shaky feeling you get when you're excited and nervous at the same time. Think of a hummingbird's wings, always moving with energy. You might have the jitters before a big presentation, after too much coffee, or even while waiting for something fun. It can be physical, like a trembling hand, or emotional, like a feeling of unease. In technology, "jitter" refers to small variations in timing that can disrupt data transmission or cause flickering in video.
The word suggests quick, small movements, like the frantic energy felt before a race begins. If you tell someone to "shake the jitters," you're telling them to calm down and relax. It is often a temporary state, fading away once you finally settle into whatever task is causing the tension.
"Jitter" describes a state of nervous excitement or trembling, often accompanied by restlessness and an inability to stay still. Imagine a tightly wound spring ready to release—that's the feeling of having the jitters. It is more than just being nervous; there is usually an element of high-strung anticipation involved. You might experience this sensation before performing on stage, taking a high-stakes test, or even going on a first date.
The origin of the word is a bit mysterious! It emerged in the American slang of the 1920s to describe a state of extreme nervousness. By the 1930s, it gave birth to the "jitterbug," a fast-paced, bouncy dance style that mirrored that same high-energy, erratic movement. Whatever its exact roots, the word perfectly evokes a sense of quick, unsteady motion.
Beyond describing human emotions, "jitter" also has a critical technical meaning in fields like telecommunications and computer science. In this context, jitter refers to variations in the delay of received data packets or fluctuations in a signal's timing. Think of it as tiny, inconsistent hiccups in a digital flow. If there is too much jitter on a video call, the image might freeze or stutter.
So, whether you are dealing with pre-performance butterflies or engineers are trying to smooth out a digital signal, "jitter" always implies instability and rapid, often unwanted, movement. It is a versatile word that captures both the physical sensation of trembling and the emotional state of anxious excitement.
Examples
- 1
Shaky movement
The old bus made the camera jitter in my hands.
- 2
Video call
The video kept jittering during the call.
- 3
Nervousness
He had the jitters before his first driving test.
- Phrasethe jitters
nervous, shaky feelings
- 4
Gaming controls
The update fixed the mouse jitter in the game.
- Domainmouse jitter
small unwanted jumps of the pointer or aim
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Network quality
Network jitter can make a voice call sound choppy.
- Domainnetwork jitter
small changes in how long data takes to arrive
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- nervous jitter
- camera jitter
- image jitter
Word family
- jittery
- jittering
Explore
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- jitternoun