jostle: Meaning and Definition of

jos•tle

Pronunciation: ( jos'ul), [key]
— v., n. -tled, -tling,
—v.t.
  1. to bump, push, shove, brush against, or elbow roughly or rudely.
  2. to drive or force by, or as if by, pushing or shoving: The crowd jostled him into the subway.
  3. to exist in close contact or proximity with: The three families jostle each other in the small house.
  4. to contend with: rival gangs continually jostling each other.
  5. to unsettle; disturb: The thought jostled her complacency.
  6. to pick the pocket of.
—v.i.
  1. to bump or brush against someone or something, as in passing or in a crowd; push or shove (often fol. by with, for, or against): He jostled for position.
  2. to exist in close contact or proximity with someone or something.
  3. to compete; contend.
  4. to pick pockets.
—n.
  1. a shock, push, bump, or brush against someone or something.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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