jet
B1Neutral to formal, depending on context. 'Jet set' is somewhat dated. Technical in aviation/engineering contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A fast stream of liquid or gas forced out under pressure; a type of very fast aircraft powered by jet engines; to travel or be propelled very quickly.
Used figuratively to describe something moving very fast (e.g., 'a jet of anger'); the colour jet black (derived from the mineral); to travel by jet aircraft; to move rapidly between places, especially in a professional context.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily associated with speed and propulsion. As a colour, 'jet' implies a deep, pure, glossy black.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. 'Jet' as a verb (to travel by jet) is slightly more common in AmE. The mineral/jewelry sense is equally known.
Connotations
In both, implies modernity, speed, and often luxury in the context of air travel.
Frequency
Similar high frequency in both varieties due to technical and common usage.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
jet [PREP] to [PLACE]jet [PREP] [PLACE]jet [ADV] (e.g., jet off, jet in)N + jet (e.g., water jet, gas jet)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “jet set (the rich who travel frequently by jet)”
- “jet-black”
- “catch a jet”
- “live life in the jet lane (playful variation)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The executives will jet to Hong Kong for the merger talks.
Academic
The study examined particulate emissions from early commercial jet engines.
Everyday
We're jetting off to Spain for a week in July.
Technical
The malfunction was traced to a clogged fuel jet in the carburettor.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She'll jet to the Milan office next Tuesday.
- He jetted off on holiday without telling anyone.
American English
- The CEO is jetting to LA for the conference.
- They jetted across the country for the wedding.
adverb
British English
- (Rare; typically part of compound 'jet-black') The door was painted jet-black.
American English
- (Rare; typically part of compound 'jet-black') His hair was jet-black.
adjective
British English
- She had beautiful jet hair.
- The crow's feathers were a jet black.
American English
- He bought her a necklace of jet beads.
- The night was jet black and moonless.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The water came out of the hose in a strong jet.
- We saw a big jet in the sky.
- She has long, jet-black hair.
- We're going to jet off to Paris for the weekend.
- The fighter jet performed incredible manoeuvres.
- A jet of steam hissed from the pipe.
- The billionaire's private jet is equipped with a conference room.
- She jetted between three European capitals in as many days for work.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a JET plane moving so fast it's just a JET of colour in the sky.
Conceptual Metaphor
SPEED IS PROPULSION / LIFE IS A JOURNEY ('jet through life', 'jet-set lifestyle').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'джип' (jeep).
- 'Реактивный самолет' is the full term, but 'джет' is understood for modern aircraft.
- The colour 'jet-black' is 'угольно-черный' or 'смоляной'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'We went by a jet.' Correct: 'We went by jet.' (usually uncountable for transport)
- Confusing 'jet' (aircraft) with 'jettison' (to throw overboard).
Practice
Quiz
In which context does 'jet' NOT primarily relate to speed?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Its core meaning is a fast stream of liquid/gas. The airplane meaning derives from 'jet propulsion'. It also refers to a black mineral and the colour derived from it.
'Plane' (short for aeroplane/airplane) is a general term. 'Jet' specifically refers to an aircraft powered by jet engines, which are faster than propeller planes.
Yes, informally it means to travel quickly, especially by jet aircraft (e.g., 'She's jetting off to New York'). It can sound slightly glamorous or business-like.
It describes an intense, pure, glossy black colour, like the mineral jet. It's often used for hair, eyes, or night.