jitterbug


Also found in: Thesaurus, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

jit·ter·bug

 (jĭt′ər-bŭg′)
n.
1. A strenuous dance performed to quick-tempo swing or jazz music and consisting of various two-step patterns embellished with twirls and sometimes acrobatic maneuvers.
2. One who performs this dance.
intr.v. jit·ter·bugged, jit·ter·bug·ging, jit·ter·bugs
To perform this dance.

[From jitterbug, heavy drinker who suffers from the jitters, from jitter.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

jitterbug

(ˈdʒɪtəˌbʌɡ)
n
1. (Dancing) a fast jerky American dance, usually to a jazz accompaniment, that was popular in the 1940s
2. (Dancing) a person who dances the jitterbug
3. a highly nervous or excitable person
vb, -bugs, -bugging or -bugged
(Dancing) (intr) to perform such a dance
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

jit•ter•bug

(ˈdʒɪt ərˌbʌg)

n., v. -bugged, -bug•ging. n.
1. a strenuously acrobatic jazz dance marked by standardized steps along with twirls, splits, and somersaults.
2. a person who dances the jitterbug.
v.i.
3. to dance the jitterbug.
[1930–35]
jit′ter•bug`ger, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

jitterbug


Past participle: jitterbugged
Gerund: jitterbugging

Imperative
jitterbug
jitterbug
Present
I jitterbug
you jitterbug
he/she/it jitterbugs
we jitterbug
you jitterbug
they jitterbug
Preterite
I jitterbugged
you jitterbugged
he/she/it jitterbugged
we jitterbugged
you jitterbugged
they jitterbugged
Present Continuous
I am jitterbugging
you are jitterbugging
he/she/it is jitterbugging
we are jitterbugging
you are jitterbugging
they are jitterbugging
Present Perfect
I have jitterbugged
you have jitterbugged
he/she/it has jitterbugged
we have jitterbugged
you have jitterbugged
they have jitterbugged
Past Continuous
I was jitterbugging
you were jitterbugging
he/she/it was jitterbugging
we were jitterbugging
you were jitterbugging
they were jitterbugging
Past Perfect
I had jitterbugged
you had jitterbugged
he/she/it had jitterbugged
we had jitterbugged
you had jitterbugged
they had jitterbugged
Future
I will jitterbug
you will jitterbug
he/she/it will jitterbug
we will jitterbug
you will jitterbug
they will jitterbug
Future Perfect
I will have jitterbugged
you will have jitterbugged
he/she/it will have jitterbugged
we will have jitterbugged
you will have jitterbugged
they will have jitterbugged
Future Continuous
I will be jitterbugging
you will be jitterbugging
he/she/it will be jitterbugging
we will be jitterbugging
you will be jitterbugging
they will be jitterbugging
Present Perfect Continuous
I have been jitterbugging
you have been jitterbugging
he/she/it has been jitterbugging
we have been jitterbugging
you have been jitterbugging
they have been jitterbugging
Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been jitterbugging
you will have been jitterbugging
he/she/it will have been jitterbugging
we will have been jitterbugging
you will have been jitterbugging
they will have been jitterbugging
Past Perfect Continuous
I had been jitterbugging
you had been jitterbugging
he/she/it had been jitterbugging
we had been jitterbugging
you had been jitterbugging
they had been jitterbugging
Conditional
I would jitterbug
you would jitterbug
he/she/it would jitterbug
we would jitterbug
you would jitterbug
they would jitterbug
Past Conditional
I would have jitterbugged
you would have jitterbugged
he/she/it would have jitterbugged
we would have jitterbugged
you would have jitterbugged
they would have jitterbugged
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

jitterbug

A variation on the two-step, it was the link between swing and rock’n’roll. Its distinct style is marked by strenuous movements and occasional acrobatics.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.jitterbug - a jerky American dance that was popular in the 1940sjitterbug - a jerky American dance that was popular in the 1940s
social dancing - dancing as part of a social occasion
Verb1.jitterbug - do the jitterbug
trip the light fantastic, trip the light fantastic toe, dance - move in a pattern; usually to musical accompaniment; do or perform a dance; "My husband and I like to dance at home to the radio"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations

jitterbug

n
(= dance)Jitterbug m
(inf: = panicky person) → Nervenbündel nt (inf)
viJitterbug tanzen
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
References in periodicals archive ?
'He's a jitterbug,' UAAP coach Franz Pumaren of Adamson said when asked about Nonoy, whose pass to a streaking Simon Camacho after a missed jumper by NCAA's JC Marcelino led to the game's final two points.
He loved fishing, travel, classical music, building clocks, and dancing the jitterbug, polka, and cha cha with Dot.
There is jazz of every kind on offer as well as a photography masterclass, poetry, jitterbug and ukulele lessons, a sketch crawl, barbershop choirs and two exhibitions of photography.
There will be jazz of every kind on offer as well as a photography masterclass, poetry, jitterbug and ukulele lessons, a sketch crawl, barbershop choirs and two exhibitions of photography.
The Jitterbug Flip is a basic flip phone with features made to suit seniors well.
I even have a picture of her and my dad (who passed away 7 years ago due to complications of Alzheimer's disease) doing the jitterbug to his songs!"
MUSIC Rip It Up Jay McGuiness, Natalie Lowe and Louis Smith will swing, bop, jitterbug, lindy hop, jive and ballroom through the greatest songs from the greatest decade of music - the 1950s!
Lowe's stage show, Rip It Up, will see the trio swing, bop, jitterbug, lindy hop, jive and ballroom to the sounds of the 50s along with a cast of dancers.
GreatCall provides health and safety solutions for older adults and their family caregivers with mobile products and services that include: Lively Mobile, Jitterbug Flip, Jitterbug Smart, Lively Wearable, Healthsense, Dashboard, Healthnotes and health, safety and wellness apps Urgent Care, GreatCall Link, MedCoach and 5Star Urgent Response Service.
Products and services include Lively, Jitterbug Flip, Jitterbug Smart, Lively Wearable, Healthsense, Dashboard, Healthnotes and health, safety and wellness apps Urgent Care, GreatCall Link, MedCoach and 5Star Urgent Response Service.
There, Second World War veteran Geoff Pattinson persuades him to partner him for a jitterbug.