JUMP

• jump
• 1

  upwards

• a) [intransitive] to push yourself up into the air, or over or away from something etc using your legs:
• How high can you jump?
• jump over/across/onto etc something
• He jumped over the wall and ran off.
• Fans were jumping up and down (=jumping repeatedly) and cheering.
• jump clear (of something) (=jump out of danger)
• We managed to jump clear of the car before it hit the wall.
• b) [transitive] to go over or across something by jumping:
• He jumped the gate, landing on the concrete.
• 2

  downwards

  [intransitive] to let yourself drop from a place that is above the ground:
• The cats jumped down and came to meet us.
• jump from/out of/onto etc something
• Three people saved themselves by jumping from the window.
• 3

  move fast

  [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to move quickly or suddenly in a particular direction [= leap]
• jump up/back/in etc
• Matt jumped up to answer the phone.
• We all jumped in a taxi.
• She jumped to her feet and left.
• 4

  in fear/surprise

  [intransitive] to make a quick sudden movement because you are surprised or frightened:
• Marcia jumped. 'What's that noise?'
• Sorry, I didn't mean to make you jump (=surprise or frighten you).Don't shout. I nearly jumped out of my skin (=was very shocked or frightened)!
• 5

  increase

  [intransitive] to increase or improve suddenly and by a large amount
• jump (from ...) to something
• Profits jumped to £2.6 million last year.
• Norway jumped from ninth to third place.
• ! Do not say that an amount, level, price etc 'jumps up'. Say it jumps.
• 6

  keep changing

  [intransitive and transitive] to change quickly and often from one idea, place, position etc to another - used to show disapproval
• jump from something to something
• Cathy kept jumping from one topic to another.
• jump about/around (something)
• I've been jumping about the file instead of working straight through it.
• 7

  miss a stage

  [intransitive and transitive] to move suddenly to a further part of a book, discussion, leaving out the part in between:
• I'm afraid I jumped a couple of chapters.
• jump to
• The movie suddenly jumped ahead to the future.
• 8

  machine

  [intransitive] if a machine or piece of equipment jumps, it moves suddenly because something is wrong with it:
• Why does the video keep jumping like this?
• 9

  attack

  [transitive] informal to attack someone suddenly:
• Somebody jumped him in the park last night.
• 10

  jump to conclusions

   to form an opinion about something before you have all the facts:
• There may be a simple explanation. Let's not jump to conclusions.
• 11

  jump the gun

   to start doing something too soon, especially without thinking about it carefully
• 12

  jump for joy

   to be extremely happy and pleased
• 13

  jump down somebody's throat

  informal to suddenly speak angrily to someone
• 14

  jump the queue

  British English to go in front of others who are already waiting in a line - used to show disapproval ➔ queue-jumping
• 15

  jump through hoops

   to do a series of things that are difficult or annoying, but that are necessary in order to achieve something:
• We had to jump through hoops to get our visas in time.
• 16

  jump ship

• a) to leave an organization that you are working for, especially in order to join another:
• The best employees jumped ship at the first opportunity.
• b) to leave a ship on which you are working as a sailor, without permission
• 17

  jump bail

   to leave a town, city, or country where a court of law has ordered you to stay until your trial1 (1)
• 18

  jump to it!

  spoken used to order someone to do something immediately
• 19

  (go) jump in a lake!

  spoken used to rudely tell someone to go away
• 20

  jump the rails

  British English jump the tracks American English if a train jumps the rails, it suddenly goes off the metal tracks it is moving along
• 21

  jump a light

  also

  jump the lights

   to drive through red traffic lights without stopping
• 22

  jump a train

  especially American English to travel on a train, especially a freight train, without paying
• 23

  car

  [transitive] American English to jump-start a car
• 24

  sex

  [transitive] spoken not polite to have sex with someone

• jump at something 

  phrasal verb
• to eagerly accept the chance to do something:
• I jumped at the chance of a trip to Hong Kong.

• jump in 

  phrasal verb
• to interrupt someone or suddenly join a conversation:
• Lena quickly jumped in with a diverting remark.

• jump on somebody 

  phrasal verb
• to criticize or punish someone, especially unfairly
• jump on somebody for
• He used to jump on me for every little mistake.

• jump out at somebody 

  phrasal verb
• if something jumps out at you, it is extremely noticeable, often in a way you do not like:
• I don't like jewellery that jumps out at you.

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.