joint

 
Pronunciation: /dʒɔɪnt/

noun

  • 1a point at which parts of an artificial structure are joined: seal the joint between the roof and the house wall
  • a particular arrangement of parts of a structure at the point where they are joined: members connected together by rigid joints
  • Geology a break or fracture in a mass of rock, with no relative displacement of the parts.
  • a piece of flexible material forming the hinge of a book cover.
  • 2a structure in the human or animal body at which two parts of the skeleton are fitted together: she suffers from stiff joints and finds bending difficult
  • each of the distinct sections of a body or limb between the places at which they are connected: the top two joints of his index finger
  • British a large piece of meat cooked whole or ready for cooking: a joint of ham
  • the part of a stem of a plant from which a leaf or branch grows: cut just below a leaf joint
  • a section of a plant stem between two joints; an internode.
  • 3 informal an establishment of a specified kind, especially one where people meet for eating, drinking, or entertainment: a burger joint
  • (the joint) North American prison.
  • 4 informal a cannabis cigarette: he rolled a joint
  • 5chiefly black slang a piece of creative work, especially a film or piece of music: listen to one of his joints nowadays and you don’t even need to see the production credit

adjective

[attributive]
  • shared, held, or made by two or more people together: a joint statement
  • sharing in a position, achievement, or activity: a joint winner
  • Law applied or regarded together. Often contrasted with several.

verb

[with object]
  • 1provide or fasten (something) with joints: (as adjective jointed) jointed lever arms
  • fill up the joints of (masonry or brickwork) with mortar; point.
  • prepare (a board) for being joined to another by planing its edge.
  • 2cut (the body of an animal) into joints for cooking: use a sharp knife to joint the bird

Phrases

out of joint

(of a joint of the body) out of position; dislocated: he put his hip out of joint
in a state of disorder or disorientation: time was thrown completely out of joint

Derivatives

jointless

adjective

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French, past participle of joindre 'to join' (see join)