jet

1.adjectiveB1

Definition

describing a color that is the deepest possible black, without any lighter tones or hints of other colors.

Example

Padma wore a jet-black dress that stood out against the brightly lit party hall.

jet + noun as color adjective; contrast clue

The storm clouds turned jet black just before the rain started.

predicative use: turn + jet black (no hyphen)

Common collocations

jet hair
jet dress
jet sky
jet plumage
jet black paint

Synonyms

pitch-black
equally dark but slightly less formal; more commonly used for describing darkness of a space rather than color of an object
ebony
a rich dark black, often with warm undertones; used more in literary contexts
coal-black
similar darkness but refers to the matte appearance of coal, not the shine of polished jet

Antonyms

snow-white
opposite extreme on the brightness scale

Grammar Patterns

jet + noun as color adjective

Usage Note

Only used attributively (before a noun). Most commonly appears in the compound 'jet black' (two words) or 'jet-black' (hyphenated).

Common Mistakes

The dress is jet.

The dress is jet black.

'jet' by itself is not a standard predicative color adjective; use 'jet black' after a linking verb.

She has jet hair.

She has jet black hair.

the color adjective almost always appears as 'jet black' rather than bare 'jet'.

1.nounA2

Definition

a fast aircraft that moves forward by forcing hot gases backward from its engines at high speed.

Example

Hamza watched the jet fly low over the city buildings.

jet as count noun for aircraft

The company owns three private jets for international travel.

Common collocations

private jet
passenger jet
jet engine
jet fuel
board a jet
fly a jet
by jet

Synonyms

aircraft
broader category that includes helicopters, propeller planes, and jets
airplane
general term for any powered fixed-wing aircraft; not specific to jet engines
airliner
a commercial passenger jet operated by an airline

Grammar Patterns

a/the + jet

by jet

jet + verb

Usage Note

Countable. Often used without 'plane' — 'a jet' alone is understood to mean a jet aircraft. The phrase 'by jet' functions as an adverb of transport method.

Common Mistakes

We travelled by the jet to London.

We travelled by jet to London.

use 'by jet' without an article for the method of transport.

The jet plane is a type of jet.

A jet is a type of aircraft.

'jet' already includes the meaning of an airplane; adding 'plane' is redundant.

2.nounB1

Definition

a narrow, fast-moving stream of liquid or gas that bursts out from a small opening under pressure.

Example

A jet of water shot up from the broken pipe in the garden.

jet of + [liquid/gas] for steady stream

Chidi aimed a jet of air at the dust on the computer keyboard.

Common collocations

jet of water
jet of air
jet of steam
jet of flame
jet of gas

Synonyms

stream
more general; can be slow or fast, wide or narrow
spurt
a sudden brief burst rather than a continuous stream
gush
a large-volume outburst of liquid, less narrow than a jet

Grammar Patterns

a jet of [liquid/gas]

jet of [substance]

Usage Note

Almost always followed by 'of' + the substance (water, gas, steam, air, flame). The emphasis is on the force and narrowness of the stream, not its source.

Common Mistakes

A jet water came out of the pipe.

A jet of water came out of the pipe.

the preposition 'of' is required after 'jet' in this sense.

There was a jet of smoke from the chimney.

A jet of smoke' is possible, but 'a stream/column of smoke' is more natural for slow-rising smoke

'jet' implies force and speed.

3.nounB2

Definition

a small opening or nozzle in a device that controls how gas or liquid fuel is released and mixed with air for burning.

Example

The mechanic cleaned the gas jet on the kitchen stove.

gas jet / fuel jet for nozzle

A blocked fuel jet stopped the heater from working in winter.

Common collocations

gas jet
fuel jet
clean the jet
blocked jet
replace the jet

Synonyms

nozzle
broader term for any pipe-end that directs flow; not specific to fuel or gas
injector
a device that sprays fuel into an engine using pressure
burner jet
specifically the nozzle on a gas burner or stove

Grammar Patterns

the + jet + on [appliance]

[gas/fuel] + jet

Usage Note

Typically modified by the type of fuel it controls (gas jet, fuel jet, oil jet). Often the cause of appliance malfunctions — a blocked or dirty jet stops the flow.

Common Mistakes

The jet of the stove is broken.

The gas jet on the stove is broken.

specify the fuel type for clarity.

I need to replace the water jet on the heater.

I need to replace the fuel jet on the heater.

this sense refers specifically to fuel/combustion nozzles, not water outlets.

4.nounB2

Definition

a glossy black material taken from a type of coal, hard enough to carve and polish, and used since ancient times for jewelry and ornaments.

Example

Élise wore a necklace made of jet beads to the wedding.

jet as uncountable gemstone

The ring had a small piece of jet set in silver.

Common collocations

jet beads
made of jet
polished jet
jet jewelry
carved jet

Synonyms

gagate
the mineralogical name for jet; very rare outside geology texts
black amber
a misleading historical name; jet is not amber, but was once confused with it

Grammar Patterns

made of jet

jet + noun (ring, bead, necklace)

Usage Note

Uncountable — treat it like a material name ('made of jet', not 'made of a jet'). Do not confuse with the black color sense of the adjective 'jet'.

Common Mistakes

She wore a jet ring.

She wore a ring made of jet.

to avoid confusion with the color adjective 'jet', use 'made of jet' or 'jet ring' only when context makes the gemstone clear.

I bought a jet.

I bought a piece of jet.

as an uncountable material, use 'a piece of jet' or 'a block of jet'.

Word family

jet-black
adjectiveB1
jet engine
nounB1
jet lag
nounB2
jumbo jet
nounB1
jet set
nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

A 'jet' is a specific type of aircraft powered by jet engines, making it the fastest among these words. 'Plane' is the most general and informal term for any fixed-wing aircraft — you would use it in everyday conversation ('the plane was delayed'). 'Aircraft' is the broadest and most technical term, covering helicopters, gliders, and airships alongside planes; it is common in aviation and official contexts ('the aircraft is cleared for takeoff'). 'Airliner' refers specifically to a large commercial passenger aircraft operated by an airline. For example: 'The airline ordered twenty new jets for its long-haul routes' (focus on engine type), but 'We boarded the plane at Gate 12' (casual travel context).

jet ↗plane ↗aircraft ↗airliner

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

jet engine
jet fuel
jet stream
jet lag
jet set
jet black
jet plane
private jet

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'jet' has two separate origins that converged in English. For the aircraft, stream, and nozzle senses: from Old French 'jeter' (to throw), from Latin 'iacere' (to throw) — the idea being that a jet engine or a jet of water 'throws' material forward or outward. For the black gemstone sense: from Old French 'jaiet', from Latin 'gagates', from Greek 'gagatēs' (stone from Gagai, an ancient town in Lycia, Asia Minor where the mineral was found). The two roots merged into the same spelling in Middle English around the 14th century.

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jet

jet — adjective

1. describing a color that is the deepest possible black, without any lighter tones

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

jet — noun

1. a fast aircraft that moves forward by forcing hot gases backward from its engine

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. a narrow, fast-moving stream of liquid or gas that bursts out from a small openi

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

3. a small opening or nozzle in a device that controls how gas or liquid fuel is re

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

4. a glossy black material taken from a type of coal, hard enough to carve and poli

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

jet — verb

1. to travel somewhere in a fast aircraft, especially a jet plane, often suggesting

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

jet off

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

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