jitter
C1Technical, Informal
Definition
Meaning
Small, rapid, and often unwanted variations or fluctuations in a signal, movement, or performance.
A state of nervousness, anxiety, or restlessness in a person.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
In technical contexts (electronics, computing), 'jitter' is a precise term for signal timing variations. In informal contexts, it describes nervousness, often using the plural 'the jitters'. The verb is more common in technical use.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major semantic differences. Both use the term in technical and informal contexts.
Connotations
Identical. Conveys instability in tech contexts; nervousness in human contexts.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English in informal use (e.g., 'I've got the jitters'), but the term is common in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[signal/system] + jitters + [adverb: slightly, badly][person] + has/gets + the jitters + [about sth]to jitter + [adverb: uncontrollably]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “get the jitters”
- “have the jitters”
- “pre-match jitters”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in IT/telecoms contexts discussing network performance (e.g., 'VoIP quality suffers from packet jitter').
Academic
Common in engineering, physics, and computer science papers to describe signal or measurement instability.
Everyday
Informal use to describe nervousness before an event (e.g., 'I always get the jitters before a presentation').
Technical
Core term in electronics, networking, and video/audio engineering for timing errors and inconsistencies.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The video stream began to jitter during peak internet hours.
- His hands would jitter slightly whenever he was tired.
American English
- The connection jitters whenever someone uses the microwave.
- She tried not to let her voice jitter during the speech.
adverb
British English
- (Rarely used; 'jitterily' is extremely uncommon.)
American English
- (Rarely used; 'jitterily' is extremely uncommon.)
adjective
British English
- A jitter buffer is used to smooth out delayed packets.
- He gave a jittery performance in the first half.
American English
- The jitter analysis showed significant timing errors.
- I'm feeling a bit jittery after all that coffee.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Too much coffee gives me the jitters.
- The old computer screen had a slight jitter.
- Network jitter can cause choppy audio in video calls.
- She couldn't hide her jitters before the big interview.
- The engineer measured the phase jitter of the oscillator to be within acceptable limits.
- Market jitters over the announcement caused a sharp sell-off in tech stocks.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a nervous person's hand holding a cup of tea that JITTERs and shakes, causing small, rapid movements in the liquid.
Conceptual Metaphor
INSTABILITY IS UNWANTED MOVEMENT (The signal jitters). NERVOUSNESS IS PHYSICAL VIBRATION (She had the jitters).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation to 'дрожь' for technical contexts; it's too general. Use 'джиттер' or 'нестабильность сигнала'.
- For 'the jitters', avoid 'тремор' (medical); use 'нервозность', 'волнение', or colloquial 'трясучка'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'jitter' as a countable noun for a single fluctuation (usually uncountable: 'some jitter').
- Confusing 'jitter' (time-based variation) with 'noise' (general interference) in technical contexts.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'jitter' used to describe a human emotion?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a standard, formal term in technical fields like engineering and computing. When referring to nervousness ('the jitters'), it is informal.
Latency is the delay in signal transmission. Jitter is the variation in that delay. High latency means a slow signal; high jitter means an inconsistently timed signal.
Yes, especially in technical contexts (e.g., 'The signal jitters'). It is less common for people, where 'to be jittery' or 'to have the jitters' is preferred.
In telecommunications, a jitter buffer is a shared data area where voice packets are collected and stored to smooth out delivery before being played, compensating for network jitter.