Kilo Lingo

/dʒæz/

Line drawing of jazz
Coloured illustration of jazz
#2693 of 5,000 Core 5000

Translation

A style of music with strong rhythm and free playing, first made famous by Black musicians in America.

Word origin

An American word that appeared in slang in the early 1900s, first for energy and lively spirit, then for the music. Where the word itself came from is unknown.

Origin
American English

Examples

.

Jazz is uncountable: some jazz, a lot of jazz.

.

"Jazz" can sit before another noun: jazz piano, jazz band, jazz singer.

.

Players in jazz often invent the music as they play.

Used in

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This word is part of lesson 54.