jaz
JAZZ A genre of music characterized by improvisation, syncopation, and distinctive rhythm; also means to enliven or embellish.
29
Points in Scrabble
Base tile values • No multipliers applied
Jazz is a music genre that originated in African American communities of New Orleans in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It's characterized by improvisation, syncopated rhythms, blues notes, and complex harmonies. Jazz evolved from blues and ragtime into numerous subgenres.
As a verb, jazz means to play jazz music or to enliven, embellish, or make more exciting. The phrase 'jazz up' means to make something more interesting or lively, extending the musical term's association with energy and creativity into general usage.
In Scrabble, JAZZ represents one of the highest-scoring 4-letter words possible, with double J and double Z. This configuration is unique in common English words, making JAZZ a crucial word for competitive players to remember.
Jazz transcended its musical origins to influence art, literature, fashion, and language. The 'Jazz Age' of the 1920s revolutionized American culture, while jazz terminology enriched English with words like 'cool,' 'hip,' and 'groovy.' It remains a symbol of innovation and cultural fusion.
The etymology of 'jazz' is debated and somewhat controversial. It first appeared in print around 1912, possibly from baseball slang meaning 'pep' or 'energy.' Some trace it to African American slang, possibly from 'jasm' (energy) or African roots. The word initially had sexual connotations before becoming primarily associated with music.
Words with similar meaning
SWING
Jazz style
BEBOP
Jazz subgenre
IMPROVISATION
Key element
Words with opposite meaning
CLASSICAL
Composed music
STRUCTURED
Without improvisation
Plural Form
jazzes
Related Terms
Make more exciting
And everything related
Theatrical hand movements
Total base points: 29 (Scrabble)
Vowels: 1 | Consonants: 3
Other high-scoring 4-letter words (Scrabble)
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"The jazz quartet improvised brilliantly throughout their midnight set."
"Let's jazz up this presentation with some colorful graphics and animations."
"Playing JAZZ with both premium letters on bonus squares scored 92 points!"
Jazz revolutionized 20th-century culture, breaking racial barriers and influencing everything from classical music to hip-hop. It introduced improvisation as high art, challenged social conventions, and created a vocabulary for discussing innovation and authenticity. Jazz remains a metaphor for American creativity and cultural synthesis.
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