v. i. | 1. | To shake with short, abrupt risings and fallings, as a carriage moving on rough ground; as, the coach jolts. |
v. t. | 1. | To cause to move with a sudden motion, especially an up and down motion, as in a carriage going over rough ground, or on a high-trotting horse; as, the horse jolts the rider; fast driving jolts the carriage and the passengers. |
| 2. | To stun or shock a person physically, as with a blow or electrical shock; as, the earthquake jolted him out of bed. |
| 3. | To stun or shock or change the mental state of (a person) suddenly, as if with a blow; as, the sight of the house on fire jolted him into action; his mother's early death jolted his idyllic happiness. |
n. | 1. | A sudden shock or jerk; a jolting motion, as in a carriage moving over rough ground. |
| 2. | A physical or psychological shock; see jolt v. t. senses 2 and 3; as, the stock market plunge was a big jolt to his sense of affluence; he touched the casing of the ungrounded motor and got a jolt from a short inside. |
| 3. | Something which causes a jolt{2}; as, the bad news was a jolt. |