jump-start
jump-start
/ˈdʒʌmpstɑːrt/
To start a vehicle's engine by connecting its dead battery to the live battery of another vehicle; to give a quick boost or restart to something.
Can be used literally for car batteries or figuratively for projects, economies, or careers.
The story behind the word. A mid-20th-century compound combining the energetic verb 'jump' with 'start.' It originally referred to using an external electrical boost to revive a dead automotive battery, but quickly leaped into figurative use for restarting sluggish projects.
Word relationships
- boost: Boost is a general term for giving help or power, while jump-start specifically implies the method of starting an engine or process.
Commonly confused with
- push-start: Push-starting involves physically pushing a manual car to start the engine, while jump-starting uses electrical cables.
Collocations
- jump-start a car
- need a jump-start
- jump-start the economy
Example sentences
- "He used jumper cables to jump-start his neighbor's car on a freezing winter morning." A helpful neighborly gesture.
Memory hook
You make the electricity 'jump' from one car to another to start it. Jump the spark to start.
When not to use
Do not use when referring to fixing mechanical engine damage; it only addresses electrical battery depletion.
Fun facts
- Modern portable jump-starters use lithium-ion batteries, allowing drivers to revive their cars without needing another vehicle.
Explore more words
stimulate, invigorate, revitalize, bolster, catalyze, refuel
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