jump-start
UK[ˈdʒʌmp stɑːt]US[ˈdʒʌmp stɑːrt]
v
to start a vehicle by connecting its battery to another source of power, such as the battery of another vehicle
v
to give a quick start or renewed energy to something, helping it to begin or become active again
Morpheme Breakdown
jump
start
jump
start
Etymology
the compound word 'jump-start' is a modern english formation, originating in the early 20th century from the automotive context. it literally describes the action of using jumper cables to connect a dead battery to a live one, causing the vehicle's engine to 'jump' into a started state. the term cleverly combines the sudden, energetic action implied by 'jump' with the initiation implied by 'start'. this vivid literal meaning was later extended metaphorically to describe giving any stalled process or project a sudden, energetic beginning.
Analysis
Structure: jump + start
jump (from english, meaning to move suddenly and quickly); start (from english, meaning to begin an action or operation)
Examples
i had to jump-start my car this morning because the battery was dead.
the government's new funding initiative aims to jump-start the local economy.
a strong cup of coffee is sometimes all you need to jump-start your day.